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• Rupert Murdoch’s ‘malign’ influence on journalism and trade unions to be discussed at London public meeting on 26 July
• Hotel workers mark the one year countdown to London 2012
• England’s GPs to sign petition calling for NHS bill to be withdrawn
• Universities merging services could mean job losses, says Unite
• ‘Meagre’ growth figures spark renewed call for economic Plan B from Unite
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• Wake up call for government as independent poll shows massive support for Bombardier

England’s GPs to sign petition calling for NHS bill to be withdrawn

25 July 2011

Thousands of England’s GPs can express their dissatisfaction at the government’s Health and Social Care bill by signing a new petition calling for the bill’s withdrawal. 

The government is claiming that because GPs have signed up to Clinical Commissioning Groups (formerly GP Consortia), they are supportive of the bill and this new model of health care delivery. 

The petition is designed to counter this claim and to tell government that GPs have signed up in order to protect their patients’ interests, but are not supportive of the proposed reorganisation of the NHS.  

The petition was launched today (Monday 25 July) by the Medical Practitioners' Union (MPU) and is targeted at GP members of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and members of practices that are members of CCGs.

The petition supports the British Medical Association’s (BMA) policy that the bill should be withdrawn.

But adds: ”If the bill is not withdrawn, we demand that the government allows full and proper scrutiny of the entire bill and the amendments to it.

”If the bill is not withdrawn, the entire bill with amendments should be recommitted and its committee stage extended.“

The petition said that participation in the CCGs does not signify support for the bill. The doctors are concerned to protect their patients’ future interests, if the law changes.

The petition closes on 5 September and will be presented to leading politicians of all parties concerned with the controversial passage of the bill through parliament.

Dr Ron Singer, MPU president, said: ”This will give the opportunity for thousands of GPs in England to crystallise their cogent opposition to the bill by signing the petition.”

The petition can be accessed via http://nhs.unitetheunion.org/gp-petition
 
ENDS

Notes to news editors:

For further information please contact Dr Singer on  07976 141199 and/or Unite communications officer Shaun Noble on 07768 693940.

The Medical Practitioners' Union is a professional section within the Unite the union health sector.