Commenting on the results of pilot health board elections in NHS Fife and NHS Dumfries & Galloway today (Friday 11th June 2010), Dr Brian Keighley, Chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said:

"The first health board elections have produced some interesting results. In Dumfries and Galloway voter turnout was only 22.4%. The turnout in Fife has yet to be announced but it is likely to be a similar figure. This demonstrates that there is little appetite for these elections and the results are not representative of the majority of the local population. We still believe direct elections to health boards would not improve the transparency of decisions or the accountability of the actions of boards.

"At a time of economic hardship, the health spending budget is better spent providing vital services to the local population rather than a costly election process which has received a less than desirable turnout.

"Furthermore, of those elected one-third have some form of political background. This has potentially resulted in local health care provision being determined by political drivers rather than by a Board which has a duty to govern and has corporate responsibility for the delivery of local health services.

"There is a worry that the newly elected members may use the NHS as a political platform and decisions could be driven by short term local targets and distort long term regional planning as resources are diverted into areas of political priorities rather than focusing on areas of clinical need.

"The BMA is in favour of encouraging greater involvement and promoting effective governance but we do not believe that direct elections are the answer. It is our view that improved engagement is best done at the most local level and that by strengthening local structures and supporting NHS Boards to improve their own consultation processes and communication with the public, patients are more likely to feel involved in the way their services operate.

"The BMA will continue to look closely at how the new health board members operate over the coming months."

A briefing paper outlining the BMA's concerns regarding health board elections is available online .

Source: BMA Scotland For more information please contact: Scottish Press Office Tel: 0131 247 3050; 0131 247 3052: 0131 247 3018 (Evenings and Weekends): 07768 005 850 Email: press.scotlandbma BMA Scotland Public Affairs Office (Telephone: 0131 247 3050) 14 Queen Street Edinburgh EH2 1LL