Nearly three-quarters of the members of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) either ‘strongly agree’ or ‘agree’ with the view the Health Bill should be withdrawn.
In the third survey of its kind in assessing RCGP members’ views on the Health Bill, 93% of respondents said they do not feel reassured by the government’s response.
More than 90% also claimed their support for the reforms remained either unchanged (63.5%) or had decreased (29.2%).
Out of those members polled by the RCGP whether they personally wished to be involved on the board of a clinical commissioning group, only 16% said yes and 70% said they would not.
“The College has made its support for placing GPs at the heart of the health service clear, but the results of this snapshot survey are impossible to ignore,” said Dr Clare Gerada, RCGP Chair.
“The majority of respondents still have concerns about commercialisation, increased bureaucracy and standards of patient care that the government has not allayed.
“With the bill making its way through the House of Lords, it is important that peers have as much information as possible so that they can ask the relevant questions, and make informed choices about what happened next.”
More than half of respondents believe the health reforms will increase the involvement of the private sector and 43% are not convinced they will reduce bureaucracy in the NHS.
A meagre 4% of those surveyed said the reforms would lead to better care for patients.
Has your support for the Health Bill increased or decreased or remained unchanged? Your comments (terms and conditions apply):
“I for one among the 4%. The NHS needs a radical overhaul and the sooner the better. The service made a drastic leap forward in 1990. Ken Clarke has never been given the credit due for the great improvements shown – for the better I dear add. We need to buld on what is good cut waste and the inappropriate use and abuse in some areas including the dependency upon it to cure all ills. More changes are needed I am glad the debate itself is moving the process forward and I hope will also move the proposed changes forward as well” – V Henry, London
“No support, I remain completely against it. The principle of putting control in GP hands is idealistic but not realistic. GPs want to be doctors not polictical bureaucrats whose main focus will have to be cost reduction and not patient health” – Name and address withheld
