BMA LAUNCHES - LOOK AFTER OUR NHS - 1 June
BMA LAUNCHES “LOOK AFTER OUR NHS”
The BMA is stepping up its activity to publicise its concerns about government reforms that have created a market in healthcare and allowed commercially run firms to provide NHS care.
“Look After Our NHS” is today (1/6/09) being launched to gather examples of the impact and cost of market-driven reforms, show where public money is being wasted, and the adverse effects this has had on patient care and doctors’ working lives.
The BMA has long argued that government policy to reform the NHS in England by introducing a market-based system of healthcare will have a negative impact on local health economies and services for patients. Using private money to fund new hospital buildings has resulted in crippling debts for NHS Trusts. Introducing competition between NHS providers, including hospitals and GP surgeries, and arranging costly deals with private companies to run independent sector treatment centres, is having an adverse effect on many existing services.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, the BMA’s Chairman of Council said: “A market economy is based on winners and losers. We’re not prepared to allow parts of the NHS to fail.
“We want to get rid of the market in healthcare and allow our hospitals and GP surgeries to work together, not be forced to compete against each other for business. Worse still it leads to unnecessary duplication, encourages gaming and there is no good evidence that it drives up quality.”
The BMA is calling on doctors to sign up to a set of key principles that argue for an NHS which is publicly funded, publicly provided, and publicly accountable. It should use public money for quality healthcare, not profits for shareholders, and put the care of patients before financial targets. Doctors’ training also needs protection since there is little incentive for commercial providers to deliver training to junior doctors.
A series of activities is being planned to encourage doctors to speak out about local concerns and to give their views on how the market is affecting patient care in their area. A branded, interactive website, newsletter, campaign pack and publicity at BMA conferences are just some of the activities that will commence in June 2009.
Look After Our NHS - NOW LAUNCHED!
The aim is to raise awareness of the impact that market-driven reforms are having on the NHS. We have long argued that Government policy to allow commercially-run firms to provide NHS services are not delivering as promised. If these reforms continue, we believe the impact on patient care, doctors' working lives and the local health environment will be damaging.
The BMA has drawn up a list of 8 key Principles for its vision of the NHS which we are urging all doctors to support.
A new website - www.lookafterournhs.org.uk - is the hub of the BMA's calls to action. These are:
- Support the BMA's key Principles
- Provide examples of how NHS market reforms are affecting doctors and their patients
- Share views and experiences
Along with the website, there will be a range of marketing materials which will be available at Branch of Practice conferences and advertising in the trade press and online. These materials can also be downloaded from the website.
There will be a stand-alone Look After Our NHS newsletter to bring doctors the latest news as the initiative gathers momentum.
Visit www.lookafterournhs.org.uk now and join the debate!
Helen Wright
Campaigns Manager
Ext. 6317
Tel: 0207 383 6317
hwright@bma.org.uk
British Medical Association
BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP
Our Principles
We want to see the NHS restored as a public service working co-operatively for patients, not a market of commercial businesses competing with each other. That’s why the BMA is calling for an NHS which:
- Provides high quality, comprehensive healthcare for all, free at the point of use
- Is publicly funded through central taxes, publicly provided and publicly accountable
- Significantly reduces commercial involvement
- Uses public money for quality healthcare, not profits for shareholders
- Cares for patients through co-operation, not competition
- Is led by medical professionals working in partnership with patients and the public
- Seeks value for money but puts the care of patients before financial targets
- Is fully committed to training future generations of medical professionals
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