The King's Fund response to BBC poll of general practitioners

10 Apr 2012 11:23 AM

Chris Ham, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund said:

‘This poll once again highlights the challenge facing the government in carrying the NHS with it as it implements the health reforms.

‘GPs will be in the vanguard of this – their commitment is essential for implementing clinical commissioning, the government’s big idea for ensuring that care meets the needs of patients. The public will judge the government’s stewardship of the NHS on the basis of whether patient care improves, so ministers should be concerned that many GPs fear that care will get worse rather than better in the years ahead.

‘Our research shows that the NHS continues to perform well, despite the financial challenge it is facing. However, a year into a financial squeeze that will last for several years, the poll underlines the significant pressures emerging in some parts of the NHS and the difficult decisions that lie ahead.'

See the GP poll on the BBC website