Dr Jacky Davis warns that NHS reforms will be ‘disaster’
Published: 18th March, 2011
by TOM FOOT
REBEL radiologist Dr Jacky Davis won a rock-star reception at a crunch British Medical Association meeting after she demanded the doctors’ union reject controversial government reforms threatening to “destroy the NHS”.
Dr Davis, representing Islington BMA members, proposed a motion calling for outright opposition to the Social Care Health Bill, which would make doctors the new NHS paymasters. She said: “If we don’t reject this bill it will be a long-term disaster. The association will have no future if we have a privatised NHS. If you think the government will listen to us you’ve probably got fairies at the bottom of your garden.”
She added: “All we’ve got from being inside the tent is a close-up view of Mr Lansley’s bulldozer. We are the ones who will have to deal with this mess.” But Dr Michelle Drage, chief executive of doctors’ authority Londonwide Local Medical Committees, said opposing the bill would dis-empower GPs. There was a standing ovation for Dr Davis and silence for Dr Drage, but the motion was not passed.