The Royal College of General Practitioners has written to the prime minister calling for the complete withdrawal of the Health and Social Care Bill despite a further 137 amendments to the legislation.

The college says it remains concerned that the bill will cause irreparable damage to the care of patients “and ultimately bring about the demise of a unified, national health service” in England.

The latest of three surveys carried out by the college in January found that more than 90% of respondents strongly supported or supported the college in calling for the bill’s withdrawal (BMJ 2012;344:e391, 13 Jan, doi:10.1136/bmj.e391). However, the college held off calling for the bill’s withdrawal immediately, waiting instead to see how the health secretary, Andrew Lansley, responded to the repeated concerns from the college. The subsequent responses from the health minister Earl Howe and Mr Lansley, together with the latest amendments, prompted the college’s decision.

Dr Gerada said, “This decision …