The BMA has defended its position on the white paper Liberating the NHS following a letter criticising its complicity.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chair of BMA council, said its approach of ‘critical engagement’ was an accurate reflection of its members’ views and existing policy.
He said: “The majority of feedback that we have received from members supports the stance taken by the BMA, endorsed by its council, following several debates on the issue. We intend to increase our activities even further ahead of the publication of the Health Bill when the BMA will lobby strongly on all aspects of the reforms proposed.”
The letter, written by Dr Clive Peedell, co-chair of the NHS Consultants’ Association, and supported by 118 doctors, warns that the white paper has become even more pro-market and the BMA is acting as though the policy proposals are a done deal.
The BMA’s Meldrum said the union would be conducting further surveys and hosting local events to ensure “we can continue to robustly represent the views of members on the ground”.
He said: “Whilst we support greater clinical involvement in the design and delivery of healthcare, greater public and patient involvement and a focus on quality and outcomes, rather than crude targets, we have real concerns about other crucial aspects and elements of the proposals including the speed at which the changes are being rushed though and the dangers of increased market-based competition in the NHS.”
Meanwhile, health secretary Andrew Lansley has held a major meeting with nearly 100 GP leaders from across the country, including figures from the BMA and pathfinder projects, telling them it is down to them to lead his sweeping reforms to the NHS.
He hinted that the new health bill, due in the next two weeks, would be intentionally light on regulation and detail to allow GPs maximum freedom to carve out new ways of working.
The National Association of Primary Care and NHS Alliance were quick to criticise the attack on the BMA. A spokesperson said: “Already 25% of the population is covered by Pathfinder Commissioning Consortia, and another tranche of Pathfinders will be announced very shortly. Such is the enthusiasm for the policy direction underpinning the reforms, as is clearly evident from these early applicant GP Commissioning Consortia.
“There has been no pressure on practices to apply to become early adopters, so it is, in our view, quite wrong to imply that GPs oppose the reforms.”
Tags: Health policy
clive peedell and his co-signatories are a tiny minority. 118 doctors, that is about 0.05 percent of uk doctors. let them keep their socialist dreams - just ignore them.
A tiny minority!
NOT SO!. King’s fund survey showed only 24% of doctors thought the white Paper would improve patient care and only 22 % thought that the ‘efficiency savings’ could be made if the reforms were implemented.
DNUK survey showed under 20% in favour of white Paper
what was the “N” of the survey? and for dnuk surveys: dnuk is the master manipulator of opinion and their surveys are meaningless. however, even if only 20% are actively in favour of the white paper, fact is that clive peedell did not get more than 118 signatures and that are less than 0.05% of uk doctors. 24% in favour according to the king’s fund are over 70.000 and we have not even looked at the undecided yet. 118 active nay-sayers ARE a tiny minority!