Ministers face fury of doctors over NHS reforms

An emergency British Medical Association conference called on Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to abandon the biggest ever reorganisation of the National Health Service.

The meeting narrowly stopped short of outright opposition to the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill, but 400 delegates heard a series of attacks on plans which have been opposed by nurses, other unions and health charities, while the Liberal Democrats voted against the “damaging and unjustified” reforms at their spring conference in Sheffield at the weekend.

Labour will today mount a further challenge to the plans after tabling a series of key amendments to legislation designed to protect the NHS against the introduction of a full-blown competitive market, which it warned would undermine care, increase bureaucracy and put the future of hospitals at risk.

British Medical Association chairman and Bridlington GP Hamish Meldrum told the meeting in London that the Government’s reforms could have “irreversible consequences” and would damage patient care.

He said it was difficult to argue against some of the Government’s claimed objectives, including greater involvement of clinicians in decision-making.

“But as on so many occasions it’s the reality not the rhetoric that counts and it’s the reality that is causing all the problems,” he said. “What we have seen is an often contradictory set of proposals, driven by ideology rather than evidence, enshrined in ill-thought-through legislation and implemented in a rush during a major economic downturn.”

He said the BMA’s position had hardened since the plan was published “partly because the Government showed little sign of listening to us or anyone else really, regardless of how vehemently or how completely we criticised it” but he warned against rejecting the measures in their entirety as it would tie doctors’ hands.

The meeting rejected a vote of no confidence in Mr Lansley but accused him of using “inaccurate and misleading information to denigrate the NHS”.

They backed plans to give clinicians a greater say in how money was spent on services – one of the major changes in the Bill – but agreed the Government should adopt a policy of “evolution not revolution”.

Labour Shadow Health Secretary John Healey said: “First the Liberal Democrats, now the BMA – this is quickly turning into David Cameron’s worst NHS week.

“His damaging plans for the health service are descending into chaos.”

The general secretary of the public sector union Unison, Dave Prentis, said: “Doctors, nurses, health professionals and NHS staff have all voiced major objections to the Bill.

“Patients, charities and unions are lining up against it and poll after poll shows that the public clearly thinks it is bad news for our health service.

“The Government is a lone voice for NHS privatisation and by turning their back on the electorate, they are turning the clocks back on healthcare across the UK.”

Last night David Cameron’s official spokesman said: “We are clearly disappointed that the BMA has decided to oppose elements of this Bill that they previously supported, rather than work constructively with us to improve services to patients.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “The BMA’s own survey shows its position is not representative of many of its members.”