29.06.12
Doctors pass vote of no confidence in Lansley
The BMA has become the second large health union to pass a vote of no confidence in health secretary Andrew Lansley at its annual conference.
Members voted 138 to 124, and are calling for his resignation over NHS reforms and pension changes. Last year the RCN voted 98.76% to pass the same motion.
Dr Mark Porter, the new leader of the BMA, having replaced Dr Hamish Meldrum, is seeking an urgent meeting with Lansley to discuss the pension reforms.
Dr Gary Marlowe, who proposed the motion, said: “During the election, there was no mention of a specific direction and/or any detail of the NHS reforms. By all accounts Mr Lansley has a long and detailed knowledge of the NHS and has been working on his plans throughout opposition. It is clear that during the election he misled the public and the profession.
“The Bill went through a stunning number of amendments and revisions, I believe the most of any Bill. How can we trust someone with such a poor record with our NHS?”
The conference also voted to escalate the industrial action that started last week, which could include reducing the NHS to minimal service levels, as seen on bank holidays. This would see GP practices close and a skeleton staff available. Members also backed a call for GPs to withdraw from helping to set up CCGs.
Hospital consultant Dr Kevin O'Kane, chair of the BMA’sLondonregion, who proposed the escalation of the dispute, said: “We will fight back, we will fight hard and we will fight for as long as it takes us to get fair treatment.”
Dean Royles, the director of the NHS Employers organisation, called for the BMA to avoid future industrial action and said: “Industrial action is not fair on patients and, whatever anyone says, it carries risks to them.
“Employers and unions have good relationships in the NHS. We now need to work together on the challenging and complex implementation phase of the public sector pension reform.”
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