Dr Richard Taylor

From Mmc

Medical leaders should take a stand (letter)

Friday April 27, 2007 The Guardian

I strongly support the view expressed by Jacky Davis (Doctors don't want golf - they want empowerment, Response, April 24). Recent events in the House of Commons have made it even more imperative for the medical profession to reassert its former power. With a government totally determined to force through ill-considered health reforms against all argument, however reasonable, it is not possible to effect change when working within the system. I believe this is the mistake the leaders of the medical profession are making.

The mental health bill, coming from the House of Lords with carefully considered amendments, most of which were supported unanimously by members of the Mental Health Alliance, a unique coalition of users, carers, health and social care professionals, lawyers, research bodies, ethnic and religious groups and voluntary organisations, was one recent example of government immunity to well-argued common sense.

The other current example relates to the potential disaster of the Medical Training Applications Service. Here the government disregards dire warnings from senior and junior hospital doctors of the likely consequences of this divisive implementation of the first stage of Modernising Medical Careers, a generally accepted necessary change to medical training. Surely this was the ideal occasion for the medical royal colleges and the British Medical Association to flex their muscles, if only they had grasped that working with the government would be ineffective and contrary to the wishes of many of their grassroots members.

I appeal to the acknowledged medical leaders to step away from the government, regardless of personal consequences, and to really represent the interests of patients, the public and staff in all matters relating to our National Health Service.

Richard Taylor MP Independent, Wyre Forest