Well said, Dr Clare Gerada.
Gerada hardens RCGPs stance on white paper
GPs' interest in commissioning appears to be sporadic across England. The majority of the profession do not have the skills, time or desire to do it.
The white paper is set to put the health and wellbeing of GPs and primary care teams on the line through its ideologically led and politically motivated reforms.
The BMA and college should initiate a debate on the implications of these market-driven reforms for the NHS on patients and the profession alike – for God's sake, this is biggest onslaught on the founding principles of the NHS since its foundation in 1948.
This is a recipe for the end of national, collective negotiating rights for GPs. It will compromise GPs' advocate role for patients.
The BMA should seek the views of GPs in a ballot if it is thinking of signing up to these reforms.
From Dr Kailash Chand
Chair of NHS Tameside and Glossop and retired GP
