Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, has claimed that the reorganisation of the national health service will speed up waiting times and ensure high standards of care.
But the biggest survey of medical opinion since the comprehensive spending review has found that only 23 per cent of doctors agree with him.
The survey for the King’s Fund think tank will come as a blow to Mr Lansley’s huge reorganisation, that will see England’s 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) abolished and consortiums of GPs assume responsibility for the commissioning of services for patients.
The survey of 500 GPs and 500 hospital doctors via the website doctors.net found a quarter “disagree” that the reforms will improve the quality of the care they provide, while 15 per cent “strongly disagree” about this point.
Although spending on the NHS will rise to £114bn over the next four years, growing demand will still mean that certain pledges have to be cut. Efficiency savings of £20bn by 2014 will mean pledges such as extending free prescriptions to people with long-term conditions will be stalled.
The survey found almost half of doctors think it would be impossible for the NHS to keep its focus on improving efficiency while implementing the savings and other reforms. Only 22 per cent thought the NHS could do both at once.
Hamish Meldrum, chair of the British Medical Association, urged the Government to rethink their plans.
“This survey sends another signal that the government needs to rethink key elements of its plans if they are to improve NHS efficiency and bring the majority of the profession on board,” he said.
Telegraph UK