BMJ Editor Calls for NHS Care to Put Patients Before Profit

The BMJ posted the call to action on social media, pointing readers to an Editor’s Choice column by Tom Moberly. The journal’s account described it as a case for restructuring how healthcare is delivered — with patient need, not profit, as the organising principle.

The BMJ is one of the world’s oldest and most widely read peer-reviewed medical journals, and its Editor’s Choice pieces carry the weight of the publication’s official editorial position. According to the post, Moberly sets out the argument directly rather than framing it as a neutral analysis.

For Kent residents, the question of how NHS services are structured and funded is a live one. NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board oversees health services across the county — from GP surgeries to hospital trusts — and decisions about commissioning and resource allocation directly affect waiting times, access to specialists, and community care provision.

The BMJ’s position isn’t new, but its timing matters. Debates about private involvement in NHS delivery, outsourced diagnostic services, and the use of independent sector treatment centres have all surfaced in Kent and Medway of NHS planning discussions.

Anyone with concerns about their NHS care or access to local health services can contact NHS 111 for non-emergency guidance, or speak to their GP practice directly. For urgent medical needs, call 999.

Key information

• NHS 111 — call or go online for non-emergency health advice, 24 hours a day
• NHS Kent and Medway ICB — the body responsible for planning and commissioning health services across Kent and Medway
• Your GP practice — first point of contact for concerns about access to local NHS services
• Samaritans — 116 123, available 24 hours a day, if you are struggling with your mental health