Hire NHS managers, not private companies, BMA leader tells GPs

GPs have been told by the chair of the BMA's GP committee to turn to NHS managers for their commissioning support and advice, rather than to the private sector.

In an email to doctors about the reforms outlined in last week's health white paper Dr Laurence Buckman wrote: 'We cannot rise to this challenge without the help and expertise that can currently be found in the NHS.'

He added: 'We should look inside the NHS and to our professional body for support, rather than going elsewhere for advice.'

Dr Buckman's directions to GPs are reported in Health Service Journal.

He told the magazine: 'There are lots of NHS managers out there who know exactly what they are doing. It would be a shame for them to lose their job and then go and work for a private company to be sold back to the NHS.'