Health is high on Great Britain's agenda - Short Takes: News at Deadline - Brief Article

Physician Executive, Jan-Feb, 2003 by James A. Hawkins

Two thirds of people in Great Britain believe they should be spending more of their money on good health and less on a good night out. Asked by BUPA (The British United Provident Association) whether spending on the family's health should take priority over leisure activities, 66 percent said yes.

The most health conscious people in Great Britain live in Scotland where 78 percent agreed that health is more important But people in the north of England are more likely to rank a good night out higher on their list of priorities.

The survey also found that more than half the 2,000 respondents say that if they needed hospital treatment and there was a long waiting list, they would pay to have it done quicker, with 80 percent voicing their concern about the length of time they might have to wait for this treatment.

The research coincides with the launch of a new concept in private medical insurance from BUPA, covering rapid diagnosis and comprehensive treatment exclusively for heart disease and cancer.