Open letter to the BMA about the health white paper

As a cosignatory of this letter I wholeheartedly endorse its
principles. Whilst I understand the difficulties of Hamish Meldrum's
position I do not think the response from him and Laurence Buckman is
adequate to address the very real threats to the NHS. Sarah Wollaston MP
in her article in the Guardian on 31.12.10 pointed out the risks of
privatisation and Polly Toynbee echoed these on 4.1.11. If the NHS is
broken up into competing units and becomes subject to EU competition law
it will destroy the NHS as we know it. There is no need for this radical
re-organisation which is not wanted by the public and satisfaction with
the NHS has grown over the last 10 years.

We do need an SRM so Council hear the views of as many doctors as
possible. I am disappointed that after the BMA sent a letter on my behalf
to Honorary Secretaries asking them to convene meetings to pass a motion
calling for an SRM if their members agreed there was need for one, that
only a couple of Divsional secretaries notified me that they were holding
meetings. A followup letter to 14 Divisions for whom I could find the
addresses has been met with a deafening silence. Let us hope Clive
Peedell's letter wakes people from their apathy before it is too late.