Call to keep NHS in Wales public

Welsh doctors have renewed calls on all political parties to keep the NHS Wales a public service.

BMA Cymru Wales' call follows today's news that some 900 patients in England who were referred to a private healthcare company for tests to help cut NHS waiting lists, have been recalled.

BMA Welsh Secretary, Dr Richard Lewis said: "BMA Cymru Wales is fully committed to working with all political parties and the next Welsh Assembly Government to ensure that Welsh patients get the service they deserve: a service fit for purpose and a service fit for the 21st century.

"We believe passionately in the national health service and its founding principles – a comprehensive national service, free at the point of delivery, funded through general taxation and based on people's needs. This means keeping the NHS public and resisting the attempt to use the private sector as a temporary fix.

"Post devolution NHS Wales has seen little, if any, significant input from the private sector. This is in sharp contrast to England which appears to be experiencing a fundamental shift towards the privatisation of services.

"BMA Cymru Wales is also opposed to the use of PFI in the NHS. PFI is fundamental to the NHS in England and we believe this is contributing to increasing deficits. There should be no increase in input from the private sector in the delivery of NHS services in Wales.

"The Welsh Assembly Government has, so far, rejected this model of providing services through increased competition – a move which BMA Cymru Wales fully supports.

"We urge all political parties to keep theirpledge to keep the NHS in Wales public."