ATTITUDES OF CONSULTANT PHYSICIANS TO THE CALMAN PROPOSALS - A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY

Objective-To determine the views of a large and representative group o f consultant physicians on the Calman proposals, in which acute genera l medical services will change from being primarily consultant led to consultant provided. Design-Postal questionnaires. Subjects-All 236 co nsultant physicians in acute hospitals in North West and South West Th ames regions. Results-Replies were received from 179 (76%). One hundre d and thirty seven (77%) indicated that they would not resume emergenc y residential duties, and 126 (71%) indicated that they would probably withdraw from general medical duties under these circumstances. One h undred and twenty six (70%) and 137 (77%) had not inserted a central v enous line or temporary pacemaker, respectively, within the previous f ive years. Of 157 answering a question on the impact of the Calman pro posals on the quality of patient services, 125 considered that it woul d be detrimental, and only 18 (11%) thought that it would be beneficia l. Conclusion-Most consultant physicians are not prepared to resume em ergency duties and could not do so without retraining in practical pro cedures. There is widespread antagonism to the Calman proposals, and m ost physicians consider that their impact on the quality of patient se rvices will be detrimental.