BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR THE END OF UNIVERSAL COVERAGE

BBC: Doctors have called for radical changes in the way the NHS in England is run.

The British Medical Association says the NHS should only provide core services - agreed after a public debate - because resources are limited.

It is also calling for the NHS to be managed by an independent board to take the day-to-day running of the service away from political control. ... The BMA says the constant development of new, effective, treatments and drugs - plus the fact people are living longer - means rationing is already happening in the NHS.

It says the suggestion of a list of core services is designed to recognise the NHS cannot pay for everything, but to make the service fair and equitable.

Mr Johnson said: "The NHS should provide a comprehensive range of services, available to all on an equal footing.

"If we are going to retain an equitable, universal approach within limited resources then priority setting is inevitable.

LIMITED SERVICES. RATIONING. A TWO-TIER SYSTEM. IOW: UNIVERSAL STATE-PAID COVERAGE IS A FAILURE.