Brits lose patience with patients

Four in 10 Brits believe those who don't look after their health should be penalised. And of these, as many as a third want penalty charges imposed on medical treatment for people who smoke, drink and are obese, with almost one in ten taking the hard-line view they should be refused treatment altogether.

The study from BUPA, ahead of Tuesday's Health Debate ('Whose Health Is It Anyway - What balance of responsibility for people's health lies with the Government, the individual and the employer?') at the Royal Geographical Society, London and which brings together 200 key influencers in a discussion on health issues, also reveals that 44% of Britons feel the Government should be most responsible for looking after their health.

There is widespread approval for the Government's recent banning of junk food advertising. The study shows that 41% believe this was very responsible and 30% think this was 'necessary because no one else will do it.'

Meanwhile, eight in ten believe the Government needs to play a greater part in the regulation of food manufacturers and 73% believe a crackdown on the British media industry and advertisers is necessary to ensure only healthy lifestyles are portrayed. While three quarters believe the Government should introduce annual health screenings for all adults, almost half believe the Government should increase taxes on cigarettes and alcohol.

With over half of Brits saying that they should be responsible for their own health, eight in ten people think parents should be answerable for children's health, with 85% wanting mandatory health and nutrition education for primary school children as part of the national curriculum.

Another sign of the nation's tougher approach to health is that 62% believe employers should monitor sickness absence more effectively - and in some cases, even refuse to pay sick leave. That said, two thirds of people would like to see employers given more incentives by the Government, to offer health benefits.

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