BMA: NHS needs more consultants

The British Medical Association (BMA) has issued a response to draft pay and workforce documents for the NHS that have been publicised in the Health Service Journal published today.

It has hit out at suggestions of a reduction in the number and grade of consultants, stating that consultants have delivered improvements in patient care and assisting in the drive to reduce waiting times.

The BMA criticised workforce planning in the NHS and claimed that the current proposals from the government would result in an NHS that is less safe for patients, with a lower standard of care and lack of cost-effectiveness.

Claims that there will be a future surplus in the number of consultants as patient activity is transferred from hospitals to primary care were rejected, with the BMA stating that consultant skills would continue to be required in alternative settings.

Dr Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the consultant’s committee of the BMA, said: “Hospital consultants are highly specialist doctors dealing with a complex and demanding workload and lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver high quality patient care.”

He added that the NHS should increase the number of consultants, rather than reduce it, to avoid a “dumbed-down” health service founded on a sub-consultant grade.

The Guardian reports that the draft document was written on November 27th before being leaked this week, with its validity not being rejected by the Department of Health.