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Doctors meet over opposition to NHS change plans Doctors have called for a halt to the overhaul of the NHS
(about 3 hours later)
By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC NewsBy 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 have called on the government to put a halt to its overhaul of 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. Delegates at an emergency meeting of the British Medical Association voted in favour of calling for ministers to withdraw the health bill.
BMA leader Dr Hamish Meldrum said doctors were worried about the "very dangerous" plans. The bill, which is currently going through parliament, paves the way for increased competition in the health service.
The Department of Health said it wanted to "work closely" with the union and was committed to the future of the NHS. The union has described the plans as "dangerous and risky".
'More pressure' The meeting - the first of its kind for nearly 20 years - has been called by the BMA leadership after concerns from its grassroots membership about the plans.
A series of motions are being debated, including one calling on Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to resign. But even if delegates vote in favour of the critical motions it does not necessarily mean it becomes official policy of the union.
The BMA leadership will meet on Wednesday to decide how to proceed.
Fears
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. BMA leader Dr Hamish Meldrum said he would rather 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. 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."
The debate comes on the day that a cross-party group of MPs set out the challenge facing the health service in making the savings it needs to keep pace with rising demands.
The Public Accounts Committee warned the target of finding £20bn of efficiencies by 2014 - about a 4% saving each year - could be missed unless the government reversed the falling productivity rates in the health service.
The MPs' report highlighted figures showing productivity had fallen by an average of 0.2% a year for the past decade, although they accepted performance was getting better thanks to increased investment in staff, equipment and buildings.
Committee chairman Margaret Hodge said: "The quality of the health service has improved as a result of this increase in spending. But the taxpayer has been getting less for each pound spent."