BMA: Govt should listen to doctors

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of council at the BMA, said in response to the survey:

“This survey shows that the government can no longer claim widespread support among doctors as justification for these flawed policies. While there are widely differing opinions, with many still to decide, there are a number of key issues where the majority have very clear concerns. The government simply cannot afford to dismiss this strength of feeling amongst the group they are expecting to lead much of the change. Doctors overwhelmingly want there to be closer working between primary and secondary care, and to have greater involvement in decision-making – yet most think these are the least likely outcomes of the reforms. And nine-out-of-ten doctors agree that increased competition in the NHS will lead to a fragmentation of services.

“The secretary of state has repeatedly said he wants to listen to doctors. Doctors are telling him that whole rafts of these proposals will either not achieve the intended benefit to patients, or will be harmful. He particularly needs to act on the concerns about competition.”