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BMA 'failing doctors' say Lancet

06/02/2008

The editor of medical journal the Lancet has criticised the British Medical Association (BMA) for its stance towards GPs' working hours.

Dr Richard Horton said that the BMA had failed to represent doctors and were being insulting and cynical towards the government.

The association is currently in a battle with health secretary Alan Johnson over extended GP opening hours.

Mr Johnson recently bypassed the BMA by writing to each GP in England asking for cooperation with the scheme for evening and weekend appointments.

Doctors will hold a poll next month on whether to accept the government's offer of around £100 million a year for practices to stay open longer.

A typical surgery would gain around £12,000 a year by staying open three hours extra a week.

Dr Horton said that it was of little surprise that government ministers had side-stepped the BMA.

He accused the association of creating a "sense of paranoia and scare" regarding the future of the NHS, claiming that it was "a tissue of lies".

"We know that patients do want greater access to GP services, and we know that lack of access to GP services is costing the British economy £1 billion a year.

"Why is it that the BMA is being so inflexible to what is a very reasonable government request?"

A BMA spokeswoman said they had no comment on the matter.