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BMA Scotland warns of ‘revolution’

By Ian Quinn

GP leaders in Scotland have warned politicians north of the border they have one last chance to fix its health service or the country will have to follow the ‘revolution' in general practice taking place in England.

BMA Scotland has produced a manifesto in advance of the country's general election in May, calling for clinicians to have a greater say on key issues such as cuts and service reconfigurations.

It accuses Scottish MPs of making empty promises which the country cannot afford and claims attempts by health boards to manage finances have proved disastrous.

Dr Andrew Buist, deputy chair of the Scottish GPC, told Pulse: ‘We're going to give it one more go to get clinicians developing services. But we'll be viewing what happens with the revolution in England with great interest.

He said BMA Scotland was at one with the Scottish Government in opposing privatisation, unlike the BMA in England which is at odds with health secretary Andrew Lansley over his any willing provider policy.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: ‘There is no doubt that the NHS, like the rest of the public sector, faces serious financial challenges in the coming year.

‘The challenge for the health service in the months ahead is to make sure that key frontline services are delivered as efficiently and as cost-effectively as possible.'

Scotland