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Doctors 'under attack' - BMA head NHS 'run like a supermarket war'
(about 6 hours later)
Doctors in England feel under attack from the government, the leader of the profession says. A doctors' leader has hit out at the use of the private sector and competition in the NHS in England.
The British Medical Association chairman hit out at ministers following pressure over the reform of the NHS. British Medical Association chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum said the health service in England was being run like a "shoddy supermarket war".
Dr Hamish Meldrum said GPs in particular were unhappy with moves to create polyclinics. Addressing the BMA's annual conference, Dr Meldrum urged English ministers to look to the example of Scotland which has mainly eschewed the private sector.
In his speech at the start of the BMA's annual conference, he is expected to back Scotland's policy, where private firms are used only as a last resort. Officials said the private sector was only used when it could improve care.
Ministers in England have tried to introduce an NHS market by using the private sector and encouraging hospitals to compete for patients. I'm not saying everthing is perfect north of the border, but at least there seems to be some shared agenda - not a service run like a shoddy supermarket war Dr Hamish Meldrum
Meanwhile, successive administrations in Scotland have preferred to use private health firms only when the NHS cannot provide the treatment. Ministers have tried to create an NHS market by using the private sector and encouraging hospitals to compete for patients. About one in 10 elective operations are now done by private providers.
He will say there is little evidence that reforms in England had improved productivity or the quality of care. Meanwhile, successive administrations in Scotland have preferred to use private health firms only as a last resort when the NHS cannot provide the treatment.
'Gentlemen's agreements' Dr Meldrum, who was born and trained as a doctor in Edinburgh, suggested the market reforms had not improved quality or effeciency.
Speaking ahead of the start of the conference, Dr Meldrum said: "Doctors have felt under attack for some time." He added: "I'm not saying everthing is perfect north of the border, but at least there seems to be some shared agenda. Not a service run like a shoddy supermarket war.
Ministers want to see a network of polyclinics - health centres with a range of services available under one roof - set up across England. "If it can be done here in Edinburgh, it can be done in England."
On Sunday, health minsiter Lord Darzi maintained they would not lead to closures of GP surgeries, but the BMA believes many are under threat. It comes as the BMA released a poll showing that 36% of the 1,000 polled did not think government changes had made the NHS better, although 42% did.
And Dr Meldrum said comments like the one last week when a minister said GPs had "gentlemen's agreements" in place promising not to take other's doctors' patients did not create a "very helpful atmosphere".
It comes as the BMA released a poll showing that 36% of the 1,000 respondents did not think government changes had made the NHS better, although 42% did.
Half were opposed to the use of the private sector, while a similar number thought they would have to contribute towards their care within 10 years.Half were opposed to the use of the private sector, while a similar number thought they would have to contribute towards their care within 10 years.
Mr Meldrum said: "It is possible the English government's increasing use of the commercial sector in providing NHS services is fuelling patients' concerns that the NHS will begin to charge for some care in the future." Dr Meldrum also attacked the government for its "anti-GP rhetoric" in its attempt to get them to work longer hours and introduce polyclinics.
Ministers want to see a network of polyclinics - health centres with a range of services available under one roof - set up across England.
On Sunday, health minsiter Lord Darzi maintained they would not lead to closures of GP surgeries.
Concern for patients
But Meldrum told an audience of over 400 doctors that the polyclinic model was "imposed, unflexible and unplanned".
"We are against a soltuion that means patients will have to travel further for most of their routine care.
"We are against a solution that will destabilise local hospitals.
"We are against a solution that threatens existing NHS practice in favour of commercial company provision."
This was followed by the passing of a motion accusing the government of "gunboat diplomacy".
It comes after accusations last week by health minister Ben Bradshaw that family doctors had "gentleman's agreements" in place whereby they promised not to take other GPs' patients.
But the Department of Health denied polyclinics - or GP-led health centres as it calls them - were being imposed as their scope was being determined by local consultations.
And on the issue of the private sector, a spokeswoman added the government's approach was "pragmatic not ideological".
"Where independent sector providers offer high quality patient care, innovation, good value for money and meet local needs, we will continue to bring them in to work as part of the family of NHS providers."