BMA’s campaign was not irresponsible, doctors’ leader says

The BMA has rejected accusations that its recent “Support Your Surgery” campaign concerning planned changes to general practice was “irresponsible” and alarmist.

The accusation was made by MPs on the parliamentary health select committee as part of its inquiry into the government’s NHS Next Stage Review, published in June.

At an evidence session MPs asked Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA Council, whether in its campaign the BMA was interested more in protecting the interests of its members than in improving care of patients, to which he replied no.

“It has been misconstrued in many areas that the BMA was totally against any change and against GP led health centres [sometimes known as polyclinics]. That was not …