PLANS to advance the overhaul of the NHS in Oxfordshire are set out today, in the face of doctors’ calls for “rushed” health service reforms to be ditched.

Local GPs will shortly vote for the doctor they want to put in charge of creating a reformed NHS in Oxfordshire, reinforcing the county’s place at the vanguard of the biggest health shake-up for decades.

But doctors have only until March 27 to put their names forward, with the election held between March 31 and April 15.

The announcement of the key figure in bringing about a new-look NHS in Oxfordshire will then be made on April 18, giving new ammunition to critics who say Oxfordshire is setting the pace in a high-risk experiment.

The British Medical Association, the GP and hospital consultants’ body, called on Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, to “halt the proposed top-down reorganisation of the NHS” at a special representatives meeting on Tuesday. Government plans were described as dangerous and “enshrined in ill-thought through legislation and implemented in a rush”.

The Oxfordshire GP Consortium was named in January as one of the pilot schemes charged with “testing design concepts for GP commissioning” and leading the way in implementing changes to the NHS.

News that local doctors will elect ‘one of their own’ to lead the consortium is being presented as evidence that the new body replacing the county’s primary care trust is to be democratic and representative.

The leader must be a practising Oxfordshire GP who will “provide visible leadership and ensure the consortium complies with its financial duties and provides value for money”. The job will initially involve overseeing the transition from the PCT to the new consortium. The appointment is expected to be for three years.

There are also proposals to create six regional groups within Oxfordshire, which will each elect a local representative on to the board of the Oxfordshire GP Consortium, Oxford city having two GPs on the board.

But in the face of the BMA’s opposition, John Lister, of the Keep Our NHS Public campaign, warned local GPs against forging ahead in the teeth of mounting opposition within the NHS and the general public.

He said: “When you are in a hole, you should stop digging. We all know that Oxfordshire is facing a massive squeeze in NHS spending. And it will be the new consortium that will be asked to do it.

“Rather than benefitting patients, the GPs will find themselves taking the rap, when less and less services are available. It is all being done on the basis of wishful thinking rather than any hard evidence “It would be good if someone could tap leading lights behind the Oxfordshire Consortium on the shoulder and say, ‘you are the only people in step with the Government on this’.”

The consortium in the making admitted it was faced with setting up the new body “within an ever-decreasing time frame”.

Alan Webb, a director of NHS Oxfordshire, the county primary care trust, has been seconded to work for the consortium. He said he believed the election of the consortium leader was “do-able” by mid-April.

He added: “The whole process is about putting GPs in the driving seat. Like all organisations, we know that the key appointment is the leader.

“All GPs are eligible to apply. The election means GPs have a proper say and will feel that they are actively influencing the process.”

Candidates will be reviewed by a panel, including the chief executive of NHS Oxfordshire, which will produce a shortlist of candidates for election.

Mr Webb said he remained confident about the level of local GP support, with the consortium needing to be in place by next year, before taking over responsibility from the PCT in 2013.

Mr Webb added: “The bill is still going through Parliament and obviously we will have to change and adapt to anything that comes out of that.”

Dr Paul Roblin, a local GPs’ representative, said: “The bill is likely to be passed and Oxfordshire needs to prepare in advance. This is a pragmatic response to circumstances. With health service managers looking to wind down the PCT, Oxfordshire cannot afford to be leaderless.

“I think it is an exercise in democracy. I think potential candidates , people who want a major role, have already identified themselves in recent months.”