The medial profession and the NHS face their most serious challenges ever, claimed the chairman of BMA council at the annual representatives meeting.
Dr Hamish Meldrum told delegates in Liverpool that both the financial and political crises affecting the country would have repercussions for doctors.
But Dr Meldrum reassured members that the BMA would protect the profession. He said: “There is no doubt that there are going to be those who want to put pressure on our incomes, the medical workforce and our pensions.
“Whilst we should be realistic and not expect inflation-busting pay rises and an infinite expansion in medical manpower, I can assure you that we are not going to allow doctors to be scapegoats for the failures of politicians or bankers.”
He re-iterated the BMA’s opposition to marketisation, the continued use of management consultants and additional PFI projects in the NHS. And he called on the profession to support the BMA’s new campaign Look After Our NHS, launched earlier this month.
Dr Meldrum did call on doctors to do their bit to improve quality and thus efficiency in the NHS. He said doctors could “vastly” improve the outcomes data for their services and “look seriously” at the issue of service redesign.
“I know some of you will think we are dancing to the government’s tune. No way! I’m talking about difficult decisions but ones that are made for evidence-based, clinical reasons not purely for political or financial expediency.”
He also called for more emphasis on lifestyle services and a healthy ageing strategy to reduce dependency in older age.
He finished his speech by urging doctors to show leadership, and get involved, with medico-political issues. He said: “We have a choice. We can be cynical, pessimistic, worry about being tainted by association and criticise from the sidelines….alternatively, we can keep talking, keep involved, keep engaged and take a leading role, not with some sort of blind acceptance but with our eyes wide open.”
Tags: Management consultants, PFI, Privatisation
