Most doctors say Government’s 10-year plan risks lower standards of care – BMA

Grassroots doctors across England raised serious concerns about the Government’s 10-year health plan, according to a survey by the British Medical Association (BMA). 

53% of respondents said they strongly supported more specialty training places, and nearly 40% strongly supported increasing the number of medical academics. 

Just under half (44%) strongly supported more opportunities for research and innovation.

In a speech at the BMA’s representative body meeting, BMA chair of council Tom Dolphin said: “We share the goal of bringing back our country’s health service from the precipice where it teeters today, because the NHS is far removed from what it should be. 

“Our patients rightly expect far better because they remember the NHS when it worked.

“Waits for hospital appointments are too often measured in years, not days and weeks. 

Dolphin added: “Public health has been broken by restructure and neglect, with no attempt to revive it despite the pandemic exposing how fragile our nation’s health has become.”

Doctors wanted Health Secretary Wes Streeting to give clear commitments that the plan could actually reverse the NHS crisis and deliver for patients.