Cameron’s NHS plans are crumbling

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

After Lib Dem spring conference urged the government to change their NHS “reform” plans at the weekend, Andrew Lansley’s plans for the NHS were already in trouble, but today’s vote by the BMA calling on the government to abandon their NHS reorganisation has dealt a body blow to the Prime Minister and his health secretary.

At today’s emergency meeting, the BMA urged “a halt to the proposed top-down reorganisation of the NHS” – echoing Labour’s attack on the changes. BMA chairman, Dr Hamish Meldrum, told the meeting:

“What we have seen is an often contradictory set of proposals, driven by ideology rather than evidence, enshrined in ill-thought-through legislation and implemented in a rush during a major economic downturn.”

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the BMA’s vote calling on the Government to abandon their NHS reorganisation, said:

“First the Lib Dems, now the BMA – this is quickly turning into David Cameron’s worst NHS week. His damaging plans for the health service are descending into chaos.”

Cameron and Lansley have been urged on numerous occasions to think again on NHS reform, but Cameron has instead opted to misquote Healey, not once, but twice. Expect NHS reform to be one of the biggest issues at tomorrow’s PMQs.