The RCGP should push ahead with an outright opposition of the Health Bill regardless of its Council's opinion, said one of the campaigning consultants that took part in the gruelling 160 mile Bevan's Run.
In protest to the government's Health Bill, cancer specialists Dr Clive Peedell and Dr David Wilson have just completed the equivalent of six back-to-back marathons in a run that started at the statue of NHS founder Nye Bevan in Cardiff and took them to the DH in Whitehall.
The RCGP should push ahead with an outright opposition of the Health Bill regardless of its Council's opinion, said one of the campaigning consultants that took part in the gruelling 160 mile Bevan's Run.
In protest to the government's Health Bill, cancer specialists Dr Clive Peedell and Dr David Wilson have just completed the equivalent of six back-to-back marathons in a run that started at the statue of NHS founder Nye Bevan in Cardiff and took them to the DH in Whitehall.
The RCGP should push ahead with an outright opposition of the Health Bill regardless of its Council's opinion, said one of the campaigning consultants that took part in the gruelling 160 mile Bevan's Run.
In protest to the government's Health Bill, cancer specialists Dr Clive Peedell and Dr David Wilson have just completed the equivalent of six back-to-back marathons in a run that started at the statue of NHS founder Nye Bevan in Cardiff and took them to the DH in Whitehall.
"This run was a message to the medical profession and the public. This bill is bloody awful and we need to rise up against it," BMA Council member Dr Peedell told GPB.
"I'm still convinced that if the leaders of the royal colleges and the unions come together and issue a joint statement opposing the bill, we can stop it."
Dr Peedell applauded the work of the Royal College of GPs' (RCGP) Chair Dr Clare Gerada's in campaigning against the bill and said she has "put all other royal college leaders to shame".
"[Royal college leaders] are stuck in the middle of the road and want to bury their heads in the sand – I don't think they even understand the wider politics as to what this bill is about," he said.
While Dr Gerada would need the backing of the RCGP's Council to launch an official call for the bill to be dropped, Dr Peedell said she "should just go for it" in light of last week's survey showing 98% of RCGP members oppose the government reforms.
"The survey results should allow Clare to go ahead with a calling for a drop in the bill without having to listen to people like Dr Steve Field," he said.
Should the RCGP join the BMA in opposing the Health Bill? Your comments (terms and conditions apply):
"Yes definitely, they should both fight with all their might to oppose the bill which will lead to increasing fragmentation & privatisation of the NHS. Our patients in hackney will be severely disadvantaged if this goes ahead" – Dr C Jones
