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Doctors call for independent NHS | Doctors call for independent NHS |
(10 minutes later) | |
Doctors have urged Gordon Brown to push ahead with establishing an independent board for the NHS. | Doctors have urged Gordon Brown to push ahead with establishing an independent board for the NHS. |
The incoming prime minister is said to be keen to give the health service more day-to-day autonomy. | The incoming prime minister is said to be keen to give the health service more day-to-day autonomy. |
The British Medical Association annual conference in Torquay backed the idea as a way to rid the NHS of "direct political control". | The British Medical Association annual conference in Torquay backed the idea as a way to rid the NHS of "direct political control". |
Doctors also said the health service's finite resources meant the NHS had to start to ration care. | |
The NHS has been politicised to a dangerous degree Dr Chaand Nagpaul | The NHS has been politicised to a dangerous degree Dr Chaand Nagpaul |
The issue of an independent board has been a hot topic in recent months. | The issue of an independent board has been a hot topic in recent months. |
Tony Blair is strongly against the idea, but Mr Brown is thought to be more sympathetic after vociferous complaints by NHS staff that they are fed up with political interference. | Tony Blair is strongly against the idea, but Mr Brown is thought to be more sympathetic after vociferous complaints by NHS staff that they are fed up with political interference. |
Strength of feeling | Strength of feeling |
A sign of the feeling was seen in one of the first motions passed at the four-day conference, which is being attended by 500 doctors. | A sign of the feeling was seen in one of the first motions passed at the four-day conference, which is being attended by 500 doctors. |
It said the government had shown a "contemptuous disregard" for the views of doctors and its reforms were "not fit for purpose". | It said the government had shown a "contemptuous disregard" for the views of doctors and its reforms were "not fit for purpose". |
The Tories came out last week with their own plan for an independent board under which members would be chosen by the health secretary and accountable to ministers. | The Tories came out last week with their own plan for an independent board under which members would be chosen by the health secretary and accountable to ministers. |
Under the BMA blueprint, the board would include clinicians and be appointed independently of government. At a local level, elected health councils would monitor services and have the power to appeal to the board. | Under the BMA blueprint, the board would include clinicians and be appointed independently of government. At a local level, elected health councils would monitor services and have the power to appeal to the board. |
Chand Nagpaul, a GP from north London, said: "The NHS has been politicised to a dangerous degree. An independent board would free it and be in the best interests of the NHS and patients." | Chand Nagpaul, a GP from north London, said: "The NHS has been politicised to a dangerous degree. An independent board would free it and be in the best interests of the NHS and patients." |
He said an independent board would never have wasted £5bn on private treatment centres, which carry out operations for the NHS, or pushed through with PFI hospital projects. | He said an independent board would never have wasted £5bn on private treatment centres, which carry out operations for the NHS, or pushed through with PFI hospital projects. |
But Khailash Chand, a member of the BMA's GPs committee, said an independent board would "destroy the NHS". | But Khailash Chand, a member of the BMA's GPs committee, said an independent board would "destroy the NHS". |
"What would stop the appointing of Tescos, Boots and other private providers on to the board?" | "What would stop the appointing of Tescos, Boots and other private providers on to the board?" |
In a recent speech, Ms Hewitt has warned the NHS was too big to bring under the control of a board and it could stop progress as it would become like a "1960s nationalised industry". | In a recent speech, Ms Hewitt has warned the NHS was too big to bring under the control of a board and it could stop progress as it would become like a "1960s nationalised industry". |
A Department of Health spokeswoman added: "Further independence within the NHS should be considered only if it improves services and delivers major benefits for NHS patients." | A Department of Health spokeswoman added: "Further independence within the NHS should be considered only if it improves services and delivers major benefits for NHS patients." |
Rationing services | Rationing services |
The BMA also entered the debate about rationing, voting in favour of a motion which called for more honesty about the practice. | The BMA also entered the debate about rationing, voting in favour of a motion which called for more honesty about the practice. |
Alex Smallwood, a junior doctor from Bedford training to be a GP, said: "Rationing has become a necessary evil. We need to formalise rationing to prevent unregulated widening postcode lottery care." | Alex Smallwood, a junior doctor from Bedford training to be a GP, said: "Rationing has become a necessary evil. We need to formalise rationing to prevent unregulated widening postcode lottery care." |
He said if a contract was drawn up, which could include restrictions on access to hernia and cataract operations for example, it would help to preserve the doctor/patient relationship. | He said if a contract was drawn up, which could include restrictions on access to hernia and cataract operations for example, it would help to preserve the doctor/patient relationship. |
But Dr Anna Athow, a surgeon who spoke against the motion, said explicit rationing would "open the door to an insurance-based system". | But Dr Anna Athow, a surgeon who spoke against the motion, said explicit rationing would "open the door to an insurance-based system". |
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