Reforms put future of NHS at risk, warn doctors

Under controversial Government proposals, GPs will be handed control of 80 billion in NHS spending and hospitals given greater independence.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) today offers only sparing support for the plans.

It warns they risk undermining the stability and long-term future of the NHS and urges Ministers to avoid taking a "slash and burn" approach with "arbitrary" cuts and "poorly considered policies".

Warning the planned overhaul could see focus shift from quality to cost, they question the value for money of reforms amid public spending cuts.

Estimates suggest they could could cost 3bn to put in place as fears grow of an NHS spending crisis in coming years which could seriously destabilise the health service.

BMA chairman and Bridlington GP Hamish Meldrum said there were parts of the Government plans that doctors could support. "But there is also much that would be potentially damaging," he said.

"The BMA has consistently argued that clinicians should have more autonomy to shape services for their patients but pitting them against each other in a market-based system creates waste, bureaucracy and inefficiency."

In a report, the BMA concludes there are aspects of Government plans which have "the potential to undermine the stability and long-term future of the NHS".