Doctors have expressed outrage after the Labour Party attempted to enlist them in an election stunt by sending unsolicited emails to their NHS work addresses. The emails asked senior clinicians and health staff to sign a letter supporting Labour's health policy, raising concerns over the use of private data for political campaigning.
The move comes just two days after it emerged that personalised leaflets on cancer policy had been sent to many sufferers of the disease. It is believed the letter was intended to be sent to a national newspaper to create the impression of widespread opposition in the NHS to Conservative control of healthcare.
However, the plan backfired when it emerged that not all recipients were Labour supporters. GP Jonathan Steel said: 'The Labour Party are targeting GPs by sending unsolicited emails pressurising them to sign a press release in support of a set of vague promises. This is appalling.' Another GP added: 'I am angry that they have emailed me at my work email address. I feel this is an absolute abuse of a publicly funded service.'
Tory MP Paul Beresford, who exposed the blunder, called the tactics 'underhand' and 'incompetent'. The emails were sent via the Socialist Health Association, which is affiliated to Labour. Director Martin Rathfelder said he was acting as a 'postman' after being asked by Labour on Friday evening.
Tory health spokesman Andrew Lansley criticised the use of the NHS email system for party political purposes. A Labour spokesman defended the move, saying it is 'no secret' that the party asks affiliated organisations for support at election time. The Information Commissioner's office is now investigating the issue of cancer patients who received personalised leaflets.
