Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting has again clashed with the British Medical Association (BMA), accusing the doctors' union of being 'hostile' to Labour's proposed NHS reforms. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Streeting criticised the BMA for opposing his call for improved patient access in exchange for increased funding and staffing.
Streeting highlighted that a record two million people are waiting over a month to see a GP, and said the BMA treated him like a 'heretic' for raising concerns about primary care. He also referenced a recent vote by GPs in England to reduce core opening hours to 9am-5pm, arguing it made doctors appear 'out of touch' with patient needs.
The BMA's deputy council chair, Dr Emma Runswick, described Streeting's comments as 'incredibly disappointing'. She stated that anger over the NHS crisis should be directed at the government's underinvestment, not at healthcare workers or their unions. Runswick warned that accusations of a 'something for nothing' culture would leave staff 'extremely concerned'.
Speaking on Sky News, Streeting defended his stance, saying he was simply responding to BMA criticism. He reiterated Labour's commitment to the biggest expansion of NHS staff in history but insisted that better patient outcomes must accompany the investment. 'It is my job to be the patients' champion,' he said.
