This is one of the statements in a brochure warning of the impact market-based reforms are having on the NHS as the BMA opens up its Look After our NHS campaign to the public.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, BMA chairman, said: ‘We want an NHS with patients, not profits, at its heart. The public values the NHS as a publicly provided, publicly funded service. Like doctors, they do not want vital funding to be diverted to shareholders.

‘NHS staff see on a daily basis the waste of taxpayers' money caused by this fixation with market ideology. Particularly as the public purse strings tighten, it is crucial that public money is no longer wasted on expensive commercial experiments.

‘Doctors have already backed the campaign. Now members of the public can show politicians the extent of opposition to commercialisation of their NHS.'

The BMA's campaign website has been revamped so that members of the public can show their support.