A survey of 100 legislators undertaken for NHS Confederation found that 48% agreed that pressures, such as tight funding settlements and the need to respond to increased longevity, could undermine the current basis of the health service.
According to the poll, which was weighted to reflect the makeup of the House of Commons, 81% said change was needed in their local area to meet future patient needs.
However, only one-third (35%) believed there was sufficient political will to implement changes, and 43% said reforms were likely to be opposed by their constituents.
The proportion of MPs who thought the current pressures on the service could call into question healthcare free at the point of need rose to a majority (53%) in the Conservative party and to 50% in the Liberal Democrats, but stood at only 39% among Labour members.
Asked what would be required for them to back reforms to local provision, 93% of MPs said evidence that changes would improve patient care would help them do so. More than two-thirds (69%) said public support from clinicians would also get them on board.
However, a quarter said they could not be persuaded to back changes if their constituents were opposed.
NHS confederation chief executive Rob Webster said, one year on from the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act, there were doubts about the political will required make necessary changes.
‘The resounding message from this survey is clear – we need an open and honest apolitical conversation between the public, patients, politicians and those delivering healthcare across our communities, about the future challenges facing the NHS,’ he said.
‘We must then all support each other to drive forward the changes needed to ensure we can deliver a 21st century NHS where we have the right care, in the right place, at the right time.’
