BMA says hospital reforms are ‘too risky’

The British Medical Association has warned that government plans for all hospitals to become Foundation Trusts will risk patient safety.

The timetable – which expects the plan to be completed by 2014 – is “foolish”, the BMA says.

According to the Care Quality Commission, 12 of the 22 hospitals where there are concerns about standards are Foundation Trusts.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said exactly the same standards for quality and safety applied to all hospitals, whether they are NHS Trusts or Foundation Trusts.

NHS Trust bosses have until the end of November to provide details of how they will achieve Foundation status within the government’s timetable.

19th October 2010