The news comes as the controversial Health and Social Care Bill today (6 September) went into its report stage and third reading.
The letter, published in
The Times newspaper, has been signed by Cathy Warwick and a raft of medical associations and colleges, including the BMA and the RCN.
The Tories have already tabled 1000 further amendments, but the letter says the bill could still 'potentially destabilise the NHS’.
It continues: ‘We share a number of more detailed concerns, including the removal of the private patient income cap; “bonus” payments to clinical commissioning groups, and the need for further reassurances over the Secretary of State’s responsibility to provide a comprehensive health service.
‘We support a vision of healthcare that is patient-focused, clinically-led and based on outcomes. That is why further significant amendments must be made to the Health Bill.’
It also calls the bill ‘the most controversial reforms in a generation’ and says the government ‘remains committed to opening up the NHS further to market forces as a priority'.
The health bill has today been discussed by MPs and the debate will carry on in parliament tomorrow (7 September).
In June the government announced a series of changes to the original proposals in the face of growing opposition.
These included giving health professionals other than GPs more power over how NHS funds are spent and watering down the role of competition.
But ministers expected a fresh wave of criticism once the bill returned to parliament and many are still rallying against the reforms.
Much of the criticism is focused on the role of the private sector and the risk of increased bureaucracy.
Unite union national officer Rachael Maskell said:‘David Cameron promised he would not privatise the NHS.
'Yet the health and social care bill will open up lucrative NHS contracts to private health care companies whose main aim is to maximise profits for their shareholders.’
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: ‘Claims that we aim to privatise the NHS amount to nothing more than ludicrous scaremongering.
‘The reality is that we're giving more power and choice to patients over how they get treated, keeping waiting times low and cutting bureaucracy so more cash gets to the front line.’
To read the letter in full, please click
here.
