Doctors demand involvement

The British Medical Association has written to the new Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt calling for doctors to be more involved in decision making.

Chairman of the BMA James Johnson said that involving doctors, health professionals and patients in the formulation of health policy should be the Government’s top priority.

Other key priorities for the BMA are encouraging the public to lead healthier lives, banning smoking in public places, increasing the UK’s self-sufficiency in medical personnel and “recognising that private sector provision in the NHS must not destabilise the services which the NHS itself provides.”