Rationing of resources in the National Health Service

Abstract

The National Health Service was set up to provide healthcare to every citizen, based not on the ability to pay, but on need. However, the Secretary of State for Health’s duty under section 1 of the National Health Service Act 2006 to promote a comprehensive health service is to provide services that can be provided within the resources available. As those resources are not unlimited, it is necessary to ration them. The issue of rationing of resources in the NHS came up again in R (Wallpott) v Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board [2021] EWHC 3291 (Admin). This paper reviews that case and comments on it, looking at why there is rationing of NHS resources and at the approach of the courts to the issue. It concludes that, although rationing of NHS resources is controversial, it is lawful and necessary.