Wes Streeting has accused the British Medical Association (BMA) of “dangerous extremism” after members urged general practitioners (GPs) to “overwhelm” accident and emergency (A&E) departments as part of a revolt against proposed reforms, reports BritPanorama.
The BMA members urged GPs to disregard guidelines advising patients to seek same-day care from pharmacies instead of A&E units. They argued that encouraging the use of pharmacists undermines the role of physicians.
Streeting expressed his shock at the communication, condemning the BMA for treating patients as “political props.” In a letter addressed to Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA’s GPs committee, he demanded an explanation for this drastic recommendation.
In his correspondence, Streeting criticized the doctors for displaying an “outrageous disregard for patients.” He stated, “Patients should never be used as political props,” and added, “It is completely unjustifiable and unacceptable to encourage irresponsible action that risks people’s safe and timely access to care. Putting patients’ safety at risk to prove a point is dangerous extremism that has no place in our NHS.”
Streeting called on Bramall-Stainer to “unequivocally condemn this letter” and to remind BMA members of their “professional duty” to prioritize patient care.
The letter in question was penned by Dr. Becky Haines, a member of the BMA’s national GP committee, and Dr. Paul Evans, a Gateshead GP associated with a radical BMA faction and a member of its UK council. The BMA has since clarified that the letter was not an official communication, stating it was issued by a local committee without their knowledge and does not represent the position of the BMA or the GPs committee in England.
They remarked, “We understand that the letter was sent in error without the knowledge of the authors.”
