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Hospital reforms 'rushed through'
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been urged to backtrack on plans to give greater powers to a trust special administrator
Doctors have accused ministers of rushing legislation that could allow changes to local hospitals to be forced through without proper consideration of patients' needs.
The British Medical Association (BMA) called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to backtrack on plans to give greater powers to a trust special administrator (TSA).
The changes form part of the Care Bill, which faces its first test in the Commons today, and follow the legal battle over the future of Lewisham Hospital in south-east London.
Ministers were defeated in the High Court over their attempt to cut A&E and maternity services at the hospital and had an appeal rejected in October.
The courts ruled the special administrator brought in to deal with problems at the neighbouring South London Healthcare NHS Trust did not have the power to suggest changes at other trusts.
But under amendments added to the Care Bill in the House of Lords, the BMA said TSAs will be empowered to also make changes in neighbouring trusts without consulting patients, clinicians, or the public.
Ministers have said the change is a clarification of the present policy but the BMA warned it would allow the Health Secretary to "force changes through the back door".
Dr Mark Porter, chair of the BMA Council, said: "With the NHS under financial strain there is immense pressure to make changes to the way services are delivered.
"We need a full debate on the best model for providing sustainable, high quality services, taking on board the views of clinicians, politicians and, crucially, the public.
"Most importantly any reconfiguration of services must be evidence-based and clinician-led, and not motivated by financial or political pressures. By rushing through these changes the Government is paving the way for current and future health secretaries to force changes through the back door without taking into consideration clinical or local needs.