It was the protesters that most doctors saw first when
approaching the Brighton Centre yesterday morning.

The 40-strong, placard-wielding crowd was there to make a
last ditch attempt to persuade delegates of the BMA’s Annual Representatives
Meeting of the merits of homeopathic remedies.

‘Vote with patients. Vote
homeopathy’, the main banner shouted. The protesters were clearly not there by
chance.

Doctors yesterday were debating
what was described as ‘the most controversial motion of the day’: the call for
the NHS to cease its funding and commissioning of homeopathic treatments.

The motion was debated for more than 40 minutes, with a long
line of speakers waiting in the wings to speak equally for and against the
motion. 

A call for a vote was rejected three times in favour of more
speaker time. Clearly, despite it raising its head before, this is still a
debate doctors are eager to continue. 

Curious to see the protesters’ reaction to the doctors’ stand
on the issue, I swiftly made it to the front of the Brighton Centre.

But, I was disappointed the see they had given up their
cause already. Perhaps they were keen to start stockpiling their homeopathic
prescriptions: they won’t be around for much longer if the BMA delegates have
their way.

There is a real sense that this morning is the ‘big day’ of
the conference. Andrew Lansley is expected to arrive at 9am today, and at the
centre is starting to fill with delegates eager for some detail on the new
health secretary’s plans for the profession. Watch this space.