Patient power payments risk driving defensive medicine in the NHS (HSJ, 28 April 2026)

Summary

The concept of “patient power payments” was recently resurrected by Wes Streeting – but such a policy risks undermining clinical decision-making.

Positioned as part of a wider push to strengthen patient voice, including within the new Women’s Health Strategy, the policy is intended to give patients greater influence over how care is assessed and how resources are allocated. However, although giving patients greater influence over provider payment could improve accountability, clinicians warn it may encourage defensive practice and place further strain on NHS services