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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Doctors meet over opposition to NHS change plans | Doctors meet over opposition to NHS change plans |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News | By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News |
| Doctors are to debate toughening their opposition to the government's plans to overhaul the NHS in England. | Doctors are to debate toughening their opposition to the government's plans to overhaul the NHS in England. |
| The emergency meeting of the British Medical Association (BMA) comes amid grassroots anger about the plans which could see increased competition. | The emergency meeting of the British Medical Association (BMA) comes amid grassroots anger about the plans which could see increased competition. |
| BMA leader Dr Hamish Meldrum said doctors were worried about the "very dangerous" plans. | BMA leader Dr Hamish Meldrum said doctors were worried about the "very dangerous" plans. |
| The Department of Health said it wanted to "work closely" with the union and was committed to the future of the NHS. | |
| 'More pressure' | 'More pressure' |
| The union fears increased competition from the private sector could harm hospitals, perhaps even forcing some to close. | The union fears increased competition from the private sector could harm hospitals, perhaps even forcing some to close. |
| Dr Meldrum said he would prefer to see the NHS as the preferred provider instead of having a level playing field with the big health companies. | Dr Meldrum said he would prefer to see the NHS as the preferred provider instead of having a level playing field with the big health companies. |
| Ahead of the meeting, he told the BBC it was now time to be "ratcheting up" the concerns. | Ahead of the meeting, he told the BBC it was now time to be "ratcheting up" the concerns. |
| He said this had not been done before as the full details only recently emerged when the government published the Health Bill earlier this year. | He said this had not been done before as the full details only recently emerged when the government published the Health Bill earlier this year. |
| "We want to put more pressure on the government to change what are flawed and very risky proposals for the NHS," he said. | "We want to put more pressure on the government to change what are flawed and very risky proposals for the NHS," he said. |
| The meeting comes after Liberal Democrat delegates rejected the plans at the party's spring conference last weekend. | The meeting comes after Liberal Democrat delegates rejected the plans at the party's spring conference last weekend. |
| Members voted not to support a "damaging and unjustified" shake-up, which will see GPs get control of much of the NHS budget along with the scrapping of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities. | Members voted not to support a "damaging and unjustified" shake-up, which will see GPs get control of much of the NHS budget along with the scrapping of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities. |
| A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We are absolutely committed to the future of the NHS. | A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We are absolutely committed to the future of the NHS. |
| "We hope to continue to work closely with the BMA and all other health professionals to cut bureaucracy and give doctors the power and freedom to make the service more responsive to patient needs." | "We hope to continue to work closely with the BMA and all other health professionals to cut bureaucracy and give doctors the power and freedom to make the service more responsive to patient needs." |