Intended for healthcare professionals

Medicopolitical Digest

Consultants' leaders spell out NHS spending prioritiesDoctors are becoming disillusioned with NHSPatients should be involved in quality improvementMedical students issue standards for medical education

BMJ 2000; 320 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7243.1214 (Published 29 April 2000) Cite this as: BMJ 2000;320:1214

Consultants' leaders spell out NHS spending priorities

In the wake of the creation of the government's modernisation teams for the NHS (15 April, p 1027) BMA consultants' leaders have set out some immediate spending priorities.

As an immediate step consultants want to see an increase in the number of consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology. This would improve the care of mothers and babies and help to reduce the costs of litigation. The BMA has argued that waiting times are more relevant than the number of people on waiting lists and the consultants say that consultant expansion in all specialties must be a high priority.

There should also be an increase in the number of consultant radiologists and an investment in support staff and modern imaging and radiotherapy equipment to help meet the targets on waiting times for people with cancer.

Another priority is for an increase in intensive care beds and an expansion in specialist training for expert nurses to provide one to one, round the clock nursing support. The government could improve older people's experience of health and social care by implementing the recommendations of …

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