The British Medical Association has warned about the founding principles of the NHS being threatened by plans to give patients their own budgets to pay for care.

There are proposals to give patients with long-term conditions their own NHS funds which could be used to get medical care from the private sector, NHS or voluntary bodies.

The BMA has, however, warned that this arrangement could lead to various levels of care and raises important ‘equity concerns’.

BMA responded to this concern by saying that money could be spent on air conditioning, respite care and transport costs which are not associated with healthcare generally.

The Association said that the consequence of this plan could be wasting NHS money on inappropriate or complementary therapies which are not as beneficial at a time when the funds are squeezed.

BMA also added that personal budgets work better in social care but healthcare is much more complicated and this plan adds the risk of putting another layer of bureaucracy.

Chairman of the council, Dr. Hamish Meldrum, said: “Apart from the practical difficulties and added bureaucracy involved, direct payments would take us even further towards a model where healthcare is a commodity to be bought and sold rather than something to which people are entitled. These proposals potentially undermine the principle of equal access on which the NHS is based.”