BMA warns against medical training budget cut

The British Medical Association (BMA) has spoken out against the government’s plans to cut ten per cent off the budget for medical training.

It says that if the cuts were to go ahead, it would worsen the NHS’ financial crisis as well as reducing the number of jobs available to doctors.

Dr Jo Hilborne, chairman of the junior doctors committee at the BMA, said: “Given the huge debts the NHS is currently facing, hospitals will be forced to make a choice between cutting posts and running up higher debts. Either way, it’s bad news for patients.”

In response to the plans, Dr Hilborne’s committee has written to Patricia Hewitt, health secretary, asking for confirmation that the cuts would not go ahead.

In the letter, the committee points out that if the budget for medical training was reduced, it would “ultimately hit patients” because there would be a “lower quality service” available.

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