Jul 26 2006
First Minister Rhodri Morgan has been warned he will cut through his only 'direct line' to Welsh doctors if presses ahead with controversial plans to strip medical committees of their statutory advisory functions.
The Welsh Assembly Government is consulting on plans to strip the nine Health Professional Advisory Committees of their statutory function in advising the Welsh Assembly Government on health policy and transfer the management of the Committees from the Welsh Assembly Government to the Wales Centre for Health (WCfH).
Commenting on the key proposal to remove the statutory basis, the BMA's Welsh Council Chairman, Dr Tony Calland said: "BMA Cymru Wales is totally against plans to change the statutory role of the Health Professional Advisory Committees. These statutory Committees are a vital link between the Chief Professional Officers, the First Minister and the Minister for Health and Social Services. They provide independent advice and a direct line of communication between Welsh doctors, lead professionals and Assembly Ministers.
"There is already a strong perception from the medical profession that there is insufficient involvement of clinicians in formulating health service strategy and policy. There has been a significant erosion of the medical contribution to the health service development, management and decision making. Many clinicians feel disenfranchised, and often excluded from key decision making processes that affect the clinical delivery of services that fundamentally affect patients and their experience of the health service.
"BMA Cymru Wales believes these proposals reaffirm this perception, and would lead to a further reduction in clinical engagement at precisely the time that it requires to be strengthened. There has been considerable rhetoric surrounding the commitment to involve clinicians in health policy development – this must be translated into practical reality – these present proposals will, in the opinion of BMA Cymru Wales, achieve exactly the opposite.
"BMA Cymru Wales and the front-line clinicians that we represent are committed to NHS Wales and the delivery of a world class health service to the patients of Wales, who deserve no less. This will only be realised if the doctors and other health professionals are included in and remain at the heart of discussions about NHS Wales, and the way in which services are delivered
"If the First Minister insists on taking forward these plans he will effectively cut through his only guaranteed direct line to the medical profession – which we are vehemently opposed."