White flag: Doctors’ leaders signal truce over NHS reform
By Ian Dunt Follow @IanDunt
One of the leading doctors' groups fighting the government's NHS reforms has sought peace with Downing Street, in a sign that the battle against the bill may already be lost.
The development comes as the Lords debate the remaining stages of the bill and Labour holds an opposition day debate in the Commons in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the health and social care bill becoming law.
But the IRoyal College of GPs, arguably the medical college most implacably opposed to the reforms, has meanwhile written to David Cameron calling for talks on how to implement the legislation.
"Now is the time to restate our similarities rather than continually focus on our differences," chair Clare Gerada wrote.
She added: "[I] hope that we can find an acceptable way forward in which the Royal College of GPs is able to work with the government towards the future stability of the NHS".
In a series of media interviews this morning, Ms Gerada said the college was being practical in the face of a bill which had now cleared most of its legislative hurdles.
"The Royal College of GPs are still asking for this flawed bill to be withdrawn. We think this bill will cause irreversible damage to the NHS," she said.
"But nevertheless, come what may, we're doctors and whatever happens, we have to work with the government and the Department of Health to make whatever happens work."
The letter shows internal nervousness at the extent of the war of words between government and medical colleges over the NHS reforms.
A meeting last month saw the government shut the door on critical medical colleges and only invite those who were sympathetic to its reforms.
That meeting was widely criticised but it led to fears in some groups that they no longer had a seat around the table.
