GPs 'sceptical of NHS overhaul bid'
Most GPs are sceptical that the Government's planned overhaul of the NHS will actually benefit patients, a poll suggests.
The BBC survey of 827 doctors found fewer than one in four think putting GPs in charge of the health service budget will lead to improvements.
Just 23% said the reforms would benefit patients, with 45% saying they would not and 32% expressing no opinion.
Meanwhile, just 25% of doctors said they would be willing to take on the extra responsibility of planning and buying in services, with 57% saying they would not do it and 18% expressing no opinion.
GPs also expressed doubts about becoming so closely involved in commissioning in specialist areas such as cancer and paediatrics.
The poll comes as Health Secretary Andrew Lansley faces mounting criticism over his shake-up of the NHS.
Under the plans, groups of GPs will control the NHS budget and commission services from 2013. NHS trusts, which manage the cash at the moment, will be abolished.
On Monday, the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) questioned the speed and cost of the plans and warned of a possible "erosion of the crucial relationship" between doctors and patients. It also pointed to "grave" concerns about the use of private companies to run NHS services and the "loss" of expertise in existing NHS trusts.
The survey, carried out online between September 23 and 30, found most GPs do not believe they are well prepared to take charge of commissioning in several key areas. These include cancer, emergency hospital care, mental health and paediatrics.
Seven out of 10 also said the planned changes would lead to the private sector taking on a bigger role in the NHS.
