Published on 31/12/2010
People in Scotland may be considering taking out
private medical cover after a top doctor suggested cuts being made to the country's health service could end in turmoil.
Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the British Medical Association in Scotland, criticised government reforms to the NHS in his recent New Year message.
He suggested that plans to make cuts to the NHS workforce and changes to GPs' contracts would damage patient care and place even more pressure on overworked doctors and nurses.
"It is disappointing that over the course of this year, cuts to the NHS workforce and attacks on doctors' contracts have been identified by politicians as the way to navigate the NHS through these difficult financial times," he said.
"While this might deliver some savings in the short term, providing the quick fix to see politicians through the next elections, it will have a long term and persistent damaging impact on patient care."
Dr Keighley added that the NHS is currently only being held together by nurses and doctors who work unpaid overtime.
Similar NHS reforms are being planned for England, with the government cutting management level jobs and handing budget control to GPs in an effort to improve efficiency.
© ActiveQuote Health Ltd. 2010
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