NHS reforms have the British Medical Association (BMA) fearing powers that are overly restrictive and controlling, given to the new Health Secretary and a new NHS Commissioning Board. It is expected that 80% of the NHS’s budget, which is currently being debated by MPs and under the Health and Social Care Bill, will be given to family physicians to spend. Doctors are beginning to form groups called “consortia” to work on commissioning services. However, the BMA say that clauses in the bill go against the Government pledges to put physicians ahead and could prevent them from their primary goal which is improving health care.

The Government has spoken against claims describing them as “nonsense”. The union is concerned that the NHS Commissioning Board will not be able to operate free from political controversy. The Health Minister would also be able to impose “any conditions on consortia without review”, according to the BMA.