Wednesday 16 March 2011

BMA demands withdrawal of Health and Social Care Bill

As widely predicted, the BMA at its emergency meeting yesterday voted to call for the government's Health and Social Care Bill to be withdrawn, amid widespread fees that the reforms will fragment the service. At the same meeting, doctors also voted against price competition in the NHS and the introduction of an 'any willing provider' policy - which is generally seen as likely to lead to swathes of the service being privatised.  

Meanwhile, concerns about accountability, potential for profiteering and damage to the patient-doctor relationship are alll growing. Fears that US corporates will take over many more commissioning services are also rising.

It looks like the government is reluctant to give ground on this, but with the Liberal Democrat party (if not its MPs) equally opposed, it's going to be very tough for Cameron to push this one through.

No comments:

Post a Comment