BMA launches major public campaign against private sector

12 Feb 10

The ‘Look After Our NHS’ campaign – launched today - will send campaign packs to all 100,000 BMA members containing posters and leaflets urging patients to show their support for a publicly-funded NHS.

The posters picture businessmen taking money out of the NHS, and call on the public to ‘help us put patients before profits.’

The campaign publicises the fact that many private providers working for the NHS have received millions in guaranteed payments for contracts, despite treating fewer patients than planned. It also quotes data from a Pulse investigation that showed GP-led health centres have received on average three times the funding per patient of regular GP practices.

BMA chair Dr Hamish Meldrum said the campaign would highlight the need for the NHS to put patients first, and not profits.

‘NHS staff see on a daily basis the waste of taxpayers’ money caused by this fixation with market ideology. Particularly as the public purse strings tighten, it is crucial that public money is no longer wasted on expensive commercial experiments.'

‘Doctors have already backed the campaign. Now members of the public can show politicians the extent of opposition to commercialisation of their NHS,’ he said.