Statement slamming reforms shelved


The statement from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) was pulled earlier this week after a meeting of medical colleges.  

It was leaked to the Guardian and says: ‘The Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties of the AoMRC continue to have significant concerns over a number of aspects of the health bill and are disappointed that more progress has not been made in directly addressing the issues we have raised.’


It also states that the AoMRC is ‘not able to support the bill as it currently stands’ and is ‘deeply concerned that the upheaval caused by the changes in the bill will distract the NHS from the huge task of meeting the current financial challenges’.


The news comes after Ed Miliband urged David Cameron to drop the plans in Prime Minister’s Questions earlier this week.

He said: ‘This is a bill nobody wants. It's opposed by the doctors, the nurses and the patients.’


He added: ‘Put aside your pride and arrogance and drop this... unwanted bill.’


Mr Cameron said the reforms would improve the NHS and said there were ‘thousands of GPs across the country’ supporting and implementing them.
The legislation is due to return to the House of Lords early next month (February).