Open letter to the BMA on user fees.

When services are underfunded and understaffed it puts increased pressure on the professionals who work in those fields. The past few years have been no different for the NHS, as reconfiguration, spending cuts and privatisation have forced decreasing numbers of healthcare professionals to do more, with less.

 

During these times it can be easy to blame the problems that are directly in front of your face for the wider issues. On the 22nd and 23rd of May General Practitioners in the British Medical Association will be asked to do exactly that. A motion has been tabled to the Local Medical Committees' Conference (the BMA decision making body for GPs). The motion calls for the BMA to support directly charging patients through a 'user fee' for using NHS General Practice services.

 

These proposals are regressive, and will harm patient care. It is important that healthcare professionals and patients stand together in the face of damaging changes to our health services and not allow ourselves to be divided by policies aimed at breaking up our National Health Service.

 

A group of medical students have written an open letter to the BMA outlining our opposition to user fees within the NHS. Please add your signature to the open letter here: bit.ly/1n6TYre and share the letter with your friends. More info on why users fees don't work can be found here: tinyurl.com/mythuserfees

 

The draft text of the letter can be found below.

 

We, the undersigned, categorically oppose the introduction of user charges for NHS GP services, and any proposals to that ends. It will be against the best interests of patients and the public to charge for GP visits. User fees are a disincentive to accessing healthcare, and target the poorest disproportionately. They lead to worsening care for chronic conditions, and more people seeking care at Accident and Emergency services, increasing cost and straining A&E departments. This will be to the detriment of the public health of the entire population, with the poorest and sickest suffering the most. The BMA, as the largest organisation representing doctors and medical students in the UK must stand on the side of patients and the public, and oppose any user charges in the NHS.

We acknowledge that there are serious issues that need to be addressed in the delivery and financing of primary care at the moment. The solution has to be better public funding of GP services, and sustainable investment into primary healthcare services. The poorest and sickest in society must not foot the bill for the lack of political commitment to sustainable funding for GP services.