Public is urged to help exclude private companies from NHS

The BMA is urging the public to support its campaign against private companies providing NHS care in England, which it says is adversely affecting many parts of the health service.

The BMA’s “Look After our NHS” campaign (www.lookafterournhs.org.uk), which was launched to emphasise the problem among doctors in June 2009, is now being extended to highlight the issue to the general public. Successive governmental policies have allowed commercially run firms to compete against existing NHS trusts and GP practices to provide NHS care, to the detriment of the health service, says the BMA.

The BMA’s campaign website has been revamped so that members of the public can add their support.

As part of the protest the BMA will be sending “Look …