Vote of no confidence in Hunt

Criticism of the NHS by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is having a "very, very bad effect" on morale, shadow health minister Lord Hunt of Kings Heath said today:

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told reporters that the British Medical Association's decision to pass a vote of no confidence in him is "sadly predictable".

Jeremy Hunt has responded to the vote of no confidence given to him by the British Medical Association by accusing the union of being "sadly predictable".

"The BMA is the doctor's union and I'm afraid its sadly predictable that when someone speaks out about problems in the NHS they would react like that" he said.

"But what I would say its not just me who want's to improve patient safety on the NHS, every week, it's horrible to say but we operate on the wrong part of someone's body in some part of the NHS".

"I gave a difficult speech about that last week saying we'd got to do better and i think most doctors would support me. I think it's my job to speak up for the patients without fear or favour and that's what I will continue to do".

Dr Paul Flynn the chairman of the BMA Consultants Committee has told ITV News that doctors felt like they were scape goats for "problems which are in the Health Secretary's remit".

"We are always open to working together we want to form a common ground with the Health Secretary. But if the Health Secretary is blaming doctors for the problems then that is very difficult".

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health has said the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt "demands the best possible care for patients", after doctors at the annual British Medical Association Conference passed a vote of no confidence in him.

"Following the findings of the Francis Inquiry and other recent reports, it is clear that the culture of the NHS needs to change and it is disappointing that the BMA union still doesn't accept that" she said.

Dr Mark Porter, Chairman of the British Medical Association conference has accused the government of consistently acting "against the best interests of patients", after Doctors approved a vote of no confidence in the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Delegates at the British Medical Conference have reacted to their vote of no confidence in the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Consultant Jacky Davis told the conference that "Mr Hunt is about as popular as George Osborne at the Olympic medal ceremony".

"Mr Hunt is ready to blame anyone and everyone rather than the government" she continued.

"His new cunning plan is to cut back the service, the staff and then blame the NHS and say it can only be saved by the private sector".

The British Medical Association has passed a vote of no confidence in the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

The Chair of the British Medical Association says that claims that doctors can provide a "24 hour a day 365 days a year service are ridiculous".

Dr Mark Porter told delegates that the health service can barely afford its current model, and that plans for doctors to do more would only add to that burden.

"Like many of you I work nights and weekends as well, at times when much of the private sector is fast asleep and ministers are tucked up soundly in their beds" he said.

"We all want urgent care at weekends and evenings to be of the same high standards as patients can expect on weekdays.

"But the calls we sometimes hear for a Tesco NHS, full service, 24/7, are just ridiculous when the health service can barely afford its current model.

The NHS is performing well thanks to hard work of doctors, the health minister has said, after a new poll revealed that more than two thirds of doctors felt "less empowered" since last year.

Dr Dan Poulter said: