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Commissioning will discredit usl

Health secretary Andrew Lansley's plan ‘to put GPs in the driving seat' is a poisoned chalice, and disingenuous to boot.

We are to be given an inadequate budget with which to provide the required services, and will have to take the blame for all rationing decisions.

The worst of it is that consortia will be keener than PCTs ever were to stay within budget, because it will potentially affect doctors' income.

This will completely discredit us as independent champions of our patients' welfare as we become tainted by the accusation of monetary considerations before those of patients' interests, much as NICE has been. We should have no part of this.

From Dr Thomas Bloch
Broadway, Worcestershire