New UK Policy Threatens The Flexible Working Scheme

The British Medical Association (BMA) said that the financial crisis would put an end to the new scheme, which helps the lady doctors wanting to work part-time after childbirth.

This scheme comes under the National Health Center (NHS). But ministers are posing a threat to stop the scheme and transferring the powers to the regional health bosses.

This move was taken mainly to solve the financial problems faced by few of the hospitals that come under the NHS.

Dr Richard Vautrey, belonging to the General Practioner committee (BMA), said that his scheme was very useful to about 2500 doctors when it was initiated in the year of 2001.

In the previous year one in four trusts showed loss in the financial side leaving an overall debt of £250million. They fear that if this scenario continues then this would hit the NHS very badly. Dr Vautrey was very concerned about removing the scheme because of the only reason that the trusts cannot be able to afford it.

He also said that they would have to discuss with Lord Warner.

The scheme has helped a lot of women as their careers are often interrupted by motherhood.

Posts were given subsidized rates by the central extending up to five years. This was to encourage local health officials to help those wanting to work part-time or returning after a career break.

This scheme was common for both male and female, but has mostly taken up by females thereby creating a bridge between childcare and work.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said that there were no plans of removing the scheme but the powers were transferred from the central to the local health authorities that would meet the local needs.

The head of Britain's biggest private hospital chain said that he spoke with the Department of Health officials in bringing under his guidance, the management of failing hospitals. The BMA said that the government has a more market-orientated approach rather than meeting the needs of the people.

Ian Smith, chief executive of BMI Healthcare, said that he would take care of managing the failing hospitals. The Healthcare Commission pointed out that about 9 hospitals were in need of financial support. Shadow Chancellor George Osborne blamed that the government was guilty of incompetence.

He said that this is one of the services that rake in money but due to poor financial management the returns are not satisfactory.