More than 70% of people would be prepared to pay an extra £1 a week to be able to use the NHS, a poll has suggested.
According to the Daily Mirror, the health service would receive an estimated £2.75 billion more in funding each year if everyone paid the extra £1 a week.
The poll also indicated that just over half of people would be prepared to pay an extra £2, which would reportedly raise an estimated £5.5 billion.
“We will look at departmental allocations again at the spending review when that takes place,” he said.
The Mirror’s online survey by Survation, which polled more than 1,050 adults, found that 27% would not be prepared to see the 1% rise in tax.
The poll asked respondents: “Some people say there is a ‘winter crisis’ in the NHS and that it is underfunded. With this in mind, which of the following do you think is the best way to fund the NHS?”
Exactly half said taxation was the best way to raise money for the health service, while 17% said services should be charged for.
Around the same number said a type of insurance model would be best, while 18% said they did not know what would be the best option.