BMA calls for further answers on seven-day services

The British Medical Association (BMA) has urged prime minister David Cameron to answer its questions about how the provision of seven-day NHS services will be achieved.

Mr Cameron made a new pledge this week during the Conservative Party conference to introduce seven-day GP services by 2020, as part of wider plans to ensure patients can receive high-quality care throughout the week.

However, the BMA said the prime minister has still failed to provide any meaningful explanation of how this will be achieved, given the staffing shortages and lack of funding that the NHS is struggling with.

Specifically, the organisation wants details on how the new services will be paid for and the new strategy for training and recruitment, as well as pledges that weekday services and emergency care will not suffer as a result.

The BMA hopes Mr Cameron will address these concerns during the remainder of the conference.

Dr Mark Porter, BMA council chair, said: "This week provides the prime minister with the perfect opportunity to answer the BMA's remaining questions. The challenge for him is will he take it and provide the answers that doctors and patients deserve?"