BMA chief under pressure over NHS shake-up vote

The Scots leader of Britain’s doctors could be forced to step down amid a revolt over the Government’s planned shake-up of the NHS.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the British Medical Association, could be ousted at an emergency meet- ing next month if the medics vote to withdraw their co-operation with UK ministers over reforms to the health service in England.

Dr Meldrum, originally from Edinburgh, is reportedly under pressure from colleagues unhappy that the BMA’s strategy of “critical en- gagement” and consultation with ministers and civil ser-vants over the past few months has failed to per-suade the Government to take their concerns on board, with some doctors now calling for a move to outright opposition.

Doctors who fear Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s restructuring of the NHS in England plan to propose motions to censure the BMA leadership at the union’s special representative meeting – effectively an emergency meeting – on March 15. If doctors vote to reject the controversial health and social care bill, Dr Meldrum’s position would be put in jeopardy.

A source close to Dr Meldrum was reported as saying: “Hamish is under a lot of pressure – enough pressure that it could topple him. If the BMA commits itself to total opposition, Hamish can’t stay.”

A meeting being held tonight at the BMA’s London branch is expected to give an indication of the depth of hostility towards the Government’s proposals, which would see commisioning of healthcare handed to GPs.

The BMA has also voiced concerns that about potential privatisation and whether it will improve patient care.