BMJ  2007;334:969 (12 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39210.522188.4E

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Take politics out of day to day running of NHS, says BMA

London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The BMA has recommended an independent board of governors to run the NHS in England, to put an end to what its chairman describes as the constant "political dabbling" in the day to the day running of the health service.

Although politicians would continue to make important decisions about the health service (such as what core services should be provided across the country), set priorities, and allocate resources, it would be the board—appointed by parliament—that would implement the policies and set standards and ensure these were delivered "without any further political interference," said James Johnson, chairman of the BMA.

"It is absolutely right that politicians should set the general direction for the NHS. But the day to day political dabbling once a topic has become hot news is not good for the service and has led to the separation of managers from clinicians," said Mr Johnson.

Managers, whose job it . . . [Full text of this article]

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