Cameron shrugs off 'chaos' claims over huge NHS shake-up

Ministers want to give GPs control of spending in the biggest NHS upheaval in its 60-year history but at the same time are ordering health chiefs to find massive savings worth 20bn.

Six health unions yesterday branded the moves "potentially disastrous". Their criticisms are further fuelled today in a report by MPs describing the savings plans as "high-risk" that will be further heightened by the reforms.

Mr Cameron said yesterday Ministers could not afford to delay modernisation of Britain's public services and he rejected claims the Government was trying to do "too much at once" in pushing through reforms.

"Every year without modernisation the costs of our public services escalate. Demand rises, the chains of command can grow, costs may go up, inefficiencies become more entrenched," he said.

But Leeds GP Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association's GPs' Committee, said: "We're already seeing primary care trusts imploding and GP groups are having to step up to the mark to fill the gap that is being left behind just to keep the NHS running.

"This is chaos developing around the country. It's a great concern because the primary plank of the reforms is to increase competition and improve the opportunities for large multinational companies to take a stake in running and providing services within the NHS. That's not good for patients."

Royal College of Nursing chief executive Peter Carter said: "This reform programme could come off the rails as people concentrate on saving money rather than delivering quality care. Continuing down this path could have a disastrous effect on patient care."

Karen Jennings, from Unison, said: "The combination of these comprehensive changes combined with the cuts will create a perfect storm that will shake the NHS to its core."