BMA demands further answers on seven-day NHS plans

The British Medical Association (BMA) has called on the government to answer key questions that medical professionals and members of the public are asking about the plans to introduce seven-day working for the NHS.

With the Conservative administration having issued a defence of health secretary Jeremy Hunt's controversial plans, following a petition calling for a possible vote of no confidence in the minister, the BMA said the general public share the industry's concerns about the proposals.

A recent public survey of more than 2,000 people in England found that 68 percent do not believe the NHS can currently afford to deliver seven-day services in hospitals, with 87 percent believing doctors alone cannot deliver seven-day services, and that a full range of support staff and other services must also be in place.

Meanwhile, 84 percent say delivering seven-day services should not mean fewer resources are available during the week. The BMA said the government can address these concerns only by being more forthcoming on how it plans to execute its ideas.

Dr Mark Porter, BMA council chair, said: "The government won't even define what they mean by seven-day services, despite confirming that such a definition does exist and that it would be in the public interest to say so."