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BUPA and AXA/PPP ophthalmology networks

Letter to all consultant ophthalmologists
17 January 2007

Dear Doctor

Further to our letter of 8 December 2006 I write to restate the BMA’s position of opposition to the establishment of network arrangements which remove the independence of consultants and potentially allow insurance companies to exert a greater level of control upon a process which should improve choice and independence for patients and doctors. Feedback from the regions indicates that in certain areas consultants have robustly excluded themselves from any network arrangement. In other regions doctors may not yet have had the opportunity to come together and discuss locality arrangements in detail - it is in areas such as this that doctors may feel most vulnerable and may wish to consider signing up to networks.

We highlight that after locality-based discussions, it is for each individual consultant to decide the action that they wish to take. The BMA’s consideration of this matter leads us to conclude that the short term benefits of inclusion in a network will be greatly outweighed by medium to long term limitations but this must be a matter for individuals to decide for themselves.

We will write as and when further information comes to light.

Yours sincerely

Rhod Daniel
Chairman
Ophthalmic Group Committee