NHS 'not ready for terrorist attack'
Doctors today voiced fears that the NHS could not cope with a terrorist attack.
Delegates at the British Medical Association's annual conference voted in favour of a motion saying "that the emergency planning arrangements within the NHS are inadequate, and urgent action is required in the face of imminent terrorist attacks".
Dr Kumar Kotegaonkar, who proposed the motion, said that the Government and security experts accepted that a terrorist attack was a real possibility.
"When, where it will happen we do not know.
"We are the frontline staff and what we are doing today is to give you a wake-up call - be ready."
Dr Kotegaonkar, from Bury, Greater Manchester, said that there had been too little planning and training among doctors for them to know what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.
He also spoke about the recent scare in Parliament, where powder bombs were thrown at the Prime Minister from the public gallery.
"Just imagine if it had been chemical warfare. It would have been a catastrophe.
"Preparation for a terrorist attack is not like a fire drill," Dr Kotegaonkar said.
Other speakers ridiculed a simple, four-page flip chart supplied to doctors which was supposed to help them identify victims of anthrax, small pox and other deadly biological weapons.
BMA chairman James Johnson said: "Quite a lot of work has been done over the last couple of years in the NHS.
"It clearly hasn't got there yet and I am very happy for you to vote in favour of this motion."
