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british medical association

Lansley admits Health Bill's 'fundamental principles' remain
April 18, 2012
Exclusive: Lansley blames a lack of understanding for the bill's lengthy passage through parliament.

Exclusive: Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has admitted none of the 1,000 amendments made to his controversial Health Bill fundamentally changed the legislation’s principles at all.

In an exclusive interview with GP Business, Lansley accused protestors of not reading the bill’s white paper – published in 2010 – claiming a lack of understanding as the root cause of the bill’s troubled passage through parliament.

Gov guidance gives private sector advantage
November 24, 2011
Government proposals will position clinical commissioning in a “full-scale market” and introduce “commercially-focused criteria” in appointing support staff

Government proposals will position clinical commissioning in a “full-scalemarket” and introduce “commercially-focused criteria” in appointing supportstaff.

TheBritish Medical Association (BMA) said recent guidance issued by the government will make it“very difficult” for CCGs to employ their own commissioning support staff andfor NHS commissioning support bodies evolving from PCT clusters to competeagainst large, established commercial organisations.

Union leaders question pension offer
November 4, 2011
Union leaders remain defiant a mass public sector walkout will go ahead despite a “questionable” enhanced pension offer from the government

Union leaders remain defiant a mass public sector walkout will go ahead despite a "questionable" enhanced pension offer from the government.

New pension proposals made yesterday means no worker within 10 years of retirement on 1 April 2012 would see an increase in the age they will retire nor will they see a decrease in the pension they will receive.

Dorrell calls for Health Premium to be dropped
November 3, 2011
HSC chair says the policy demonstrates the "wrong analysis of how public bodies behave"

The chair of the Health Select Committee (HSC) has called for the government's "half-baked" Health Premium policy to be scrapped, following a report into public health reforms.

Under the government's new public health service, Public Health England (PHE), ring-fenced grants will be given to local authorities according to a needs-based formula.

The proposed 'Health Premium' will award additional funding for heath improvement services if local authorities prove they have made progress in "improving the health of the population".

BMA survey highlights Health Bill concerns
October 27, 2011
GPs reject the government’s “unethical” clinical commissioning quality premium proposals, survey shows

GPs have rejected the government's "unethical" clinical commissioning quality premium proposals, a survey shows.

A BMA survey seeking the views of every GP in the UK on a wide range of issues found the Health and Social Care Bill, which is currently in parliament, is still injecting fear into a number of GPs.

Potential conflicts of interests arising from the reforms emerged as one issue particularly worrying GPs, with 69% reporting concerns.

NHS called to cover organ donor funeral costs
October 12, 2011
Organ donors should have their funeral expenses paid by the NHS as a way of tackling the current shortage of organs, it is claimed

Organ donors should have their funeral expenses paid by the NHS as a way of tackling the current shortage of organs, it is claimed.

A report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics suggests that covering funeral costs provides an "ethical way" of encouraging more people to sign the Organ Donor Register.

Language test for overseas doctors
October 6, 2011
Overseas doctors with a “poor grasp” of the English language will be barred from working for the NHS, under new rules announced by the Health Secretary

Overseas doctors with a "poor grasp" of the English language will be barred from working for the NHS, under new rules announced by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley yesterday (4 October).

In his address to the Conservative Party during its annual party conference in Liverpool, Lansley said, "proficient language skills were equally as important as proper medical qualifications" when practicing as a doctor in England.

He revealed a commitment to empower the General Medical Council (GMC) to take action against doctors who fail to communicate to the standard required.

BMA ups anti-Health Bill campaign
September 23, 2011
The British Medical Association (BMA) has pledged to up its anti-Health and Social Care Bill lobbying activity ahead of its second reading in the House of Lords

The British Medical Association (BMA) has pledged to up its anti-Health and Social Care Bill lobbying activity ahead of its second reading in the House of Lords.

A programme of lobbying, local events and further campaigning activity has been agreed to highlight doctors' major concerns about the Bill.

BMA will not ballot on strike action
September 23, 2011
The British Medical Association (BMA) has decided it is "not appropriate" to ballot its members on strike action over pension reforms "at this point"

The British Medical Association (BMA) has decided it is "not appropriate" to ballot its members on strike action over pension reforms "at this point".

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA Council, has backed the planned industrial action by public sector workers on the 30 November but stopped short of announcing the BMA's inclusion.

"We share the intense anger of all NHS staff about the way in which the government is attempting to bring about wide-ranging changes to our pensions without genuine negotiation," said Meldrum.

BMA 'skewed list' warning over boundaries
September 13, 2011
The abolition of practice boundaries could destabilise general practices in local areas, claims a British Medical Association (BMA) representative

The abolition of practice boundaries could destabilise general practices in local areas, claims a British Medical Association (BMA) representative.

The government's White Paper, Equity & excellence: Liberating the NHS, has committed that by April 2012, every patient will have a clear right to choose to register with any GP practice with an open list and without being restricted by where they live.