This week BUPA has been running a debate on whether healthcare can "afford the informed consumer".

More than half of the audience of top medical professionals, health economists, patient groups and policy makers, said this was not possible.The consensus was also that while information on clinicians and the outcomes of procedures exists it is difficult to obtain or understand.

Forum Response: BUPA

Andrew Vallance-Owen, group medical director at BUPA, told ePolitix.com: "We share the government's enthusiasm for greater choice but it has to be real choice, for example: giving patients greater involvement in decisions about their treatment.

"While a number of initiatives have been successfully piloted, there are further challenges to negotiate including the funding of individual healthcare choices."Choice is not just about where care is delivered but also how it is funded, for example: could the future of patient choice see individuals using their NHS entitlement alongside their own financial input to effect real choice?"

Forum Response: Consumers' Association

Jackie Glatter, senior public affairs officer at the Consumers' Association, told ePolitix.com: "Consumers' Association's research shows that patients and carers are frequently let down by a lack of, or poor communication of, health information. From the moment someone seeks reassurance or direction they are often confronted with confusing messages and conflicting advice.

"The way we currently generate and disseminate information on health needs a radical shake up. This is clearly recognised by those attending BUPA's health debate.

"Any concerns about the costs of undertaking the necessary changes should be balanced against those of not doing so, in particular as the public is being urged to take greater responsibility for self-management and making informed choices.

"Additionally, much can be achieved at relatively low cost, for example, central co-ordination and dissemination of the many good initiatives that already exist and ensuring that information that is produced meets set high quality standards. Better informed patients are also likely to make more rational use of the health service, potentially leading to cost savings.

"Consumers' Association believes that patient information is fundamental to the notion of a patient-centred health service and should now be made a government priority."