Media release from BMA Scotland

Speaking at the Annual Conference of the British Medical Association (BMA) in Brighton today [Monday 28 June 2010], Dr Brian Keighley, Chairman of the BMA in Scotland, called for an 'open and honest' debate about what the NHS can afford as the service braced itself for a reduction in funding in coming years. He said:

"While Scotland may be taking a different approach to health policy to England, we are no less vulnerable than our colleagues elsewhere in the UK to the impact of the public spending squeeze. The Scottish Government has given a commitment to protect NHS funding, but nevertheless we face testing times ahead. We recognise that a number of difficult questions will need to be asked of the NHS over the next few years. BMA Scotland therefore calls on the Scottish Government to lead an honest and open debate on what the NHS can and cannot afford, with a focus on protecting its core functions and maintaining quality of care and patient safety."

Dr Keighley called on the Scottish Government and NHS managers to involve doctors in decisions about how financial savings can be made locally. He said:

"Doctors recognise that there is intense pressure to make savings in the health service, however making indiscriminate cuts is not only short-sighted but could cause irreparable damage to the NHS.

"It is therefore essential that in reaching these decisions, NHS managers consult with healthcare professionals locally and value the medical leadership offered by doctors to reshape and develop services to make them more efficient without affecting the quality of patient care."

Dr Keighley also warned of the dangers of the new Patient Rights Bill and legally binding waiting times could distort clinical priorities and harm patient care. He said:

"Just as targets are being relaxed in England, the Scottish Government now intends to create legally binding waiting times which are inflexible and will bring with them penalties for boards who do not achieve them. At a time of financial pressures, it is likely that this will distort clinical priorities and do more harm than good to patient care."

Turning to issues regarding public health, Dr Keighley commended the Scottish Government's efforts to tackle Scotland's problem with alcohol misuse but criticised opponents to the Alcohol Bill. He said:

"Alcohol misuse is Scotland's most serious health issue. It is now our national duty to ensure we do all we can to tackle this epidemic. Minimum pricing is not the single solution but evidence shows it is an essential component of any strategy, sadly it has been dismissed out of hand by opposition parties who have yet to propose equally effective alternatives."