25.06.13
Doctors have ‘no confidence’ in Hunt
The BMA has passed a vote of no confidence in health secretary Jeremy Hunt, after accusing him of “denigrating the NHS”.
The motion was proposed by Dr Jacky Davis, hospital consultant and member of the BMA’s ruling council. It follows a vote of no confidence for the previous health secretary, Andrew Lansley, last year.
Davis said Hunt was leading the Government's “ideological attack on the [health] service and on staff...His main purpose seems to be criticising the service and undermining the staff.
“He is at the forefront of a new political blame game, blaming frontline NHS staff for the predictable chaos resulting from his government's reforms and cuts.”
BMA leader Dr Mark Porter supported the vote and said: “This present Coalition Government goes out of its way to act against the interests of patients.”
But a spokeswoman for the DH said: “It is completely right that the health secretary demands the best possible care for patients. Following the findings of the Francis inquiry and other recent reports, it is clear that the culture of the NHS needs to change and it is disappointing that the BMA union still doesn't accept that.”
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