BMA - Darzi reforms will only succeed if staff are on board, says BMA - 30 Jun

BMA Press - For immediate release: Monday 30 June, 2008

Many of the changes announced today (Monday, 30 June, 2008) in Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS in England are positive, the BMA says, but their success or failure will depend on the detail, and on the extent of engagement with staff.  - Full Details...

Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of BMA Council, says:

• “There is much here that could bring about improvement – if it can be delivered.  That will depend on the details, and on the true engagement of NHS staff in implementing change.  If they are sidelined, these are little more than fine words and we won’t see the improvements the NHS desperately needs. In some areas there was insufficient consultation with the public or staff on changes to local NHS services during the review process and we don’t want to see that repeated in the future.
• “An NHS constitution is something that the BMA has called for and the public deserves a clearer idea of what it can expect from the health service it funds.  The constitution should also empower staff, working with patients, to run the health service locally without the day to day interference of politicians.  We are pleased the government has stated its intention to move away from target-driven health policies and to focus instead on the quality of patient care.
• “There will clearly be a lot of detail to examine and many practical issues to consider, and we look forward to working with the government as part of the consultation process.”

On measuring quality of care and outcomes of treatment, Dr Meldrum says:

• “Doctors have, for many years, been calling for more published data to help them deliver high quality care for their patients. However there is still a long way to go in having access to accurate, reliable and meaningful data that enables patients, working with their doctors, to make fully informed choices about their treatment.”  

The BMA welcomes plans to create a new body – Medical Education England - to oversee doctors’ training, Dr Meldrum says:

• “The government is right to loosen its grip on medical training and control should be returned to the profession.  Medical Education England will only be effective, however, if it is properly constituted, has real powers, a strong input from the medical profession, and from doctors in training in particular.”

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