Dr Eric Watts

Who Dr Eric Watts is

Dr Eric Watts is a retired consultant haematologist who qualified from Glasgow University in 1971 and worked in general practice in Clapham and Canada before specialising in haematology. He held a diploma in health service management from Keele University and served as clinical director at Basildon Hospital for ten years. In retirement he was elected as a governor of two hospitals in Essex and worked with the Royal College of Physicians on public and patient engagement. He served as Chair of Doctors for the NHS (DFNHS), a campaigning organisation formed in March 2015 when the NHS Consultants' Association renamed itself and opened membership to GPs and medical trainees. He is publicly known for arguing against the marketisation and privatisation of the NHS, and for the view that the NHS is a more cost-effective system than private alternatives.

References for this biography

1. 1.Who We Are – Doctors for the NHS — Confirms Eric Watts's medical training (Glasgow University, 1971), career in haematology, clinical directorship at Basildon Hospital, retirement activities including hospital governorships in Essex and work with the Royal College of Physicians.
2. 2.Press release: 'Call the doctor – which credit card please?' – Doctors for the NHS — Identifies Dr Eric Watts as Chair of Doctors for the NHS and consultant haematologist; quotes his public argument against private GP services; confirms DFNHS was formed in March 2015 from the NHS Consultants' Association.
3. 3.Press Release: Treat the disease not the symptom, Mr Hunt – Doctors for the NHS — Identifies Dr Eric Watts as Chair of Doctors for the NHS and hospital consultant in Essex; records his public statements on the NHS funding crisis and social care.
4. 4.Doctors' group to fight NHS break-up – Socialist Health Association — Confirms Eric Watts as Co-Chair of DFNHS at launch and as a retired hospital consultant haematologist; records his public statements on NHS privatisation.
5. 5.Dr Eric Watts – Socialist Health Association officer profile — Corroborates his clinical directorship at Basildon Hospital and his role in founding Doctors for the NHS; records his stated aims for NHS policy.
6. 6.Eric Watts Archives – Doctors for the NHS — Evidences his ongoing public role as DFNHS Chair: GMC correspondence, NHS Improvement consultation response, and ITV Agenda appearance.

Notable achievements

• Co-founded and chaired Doctors for the NHS (DFNHS) from its formation in March 2015, when the NHS Consultants' Association renamed itself and expanded to include GPs and trainees. Source ↗
• Wrote formally to the Chair of the General Medical Council on behalf of DFNHS about the state of the NHS and the working conditions of doctors, receiving a substantive reply. Source ↗
• Submitted DFNHS's response to NHS Improvement's consultation on its patient safety strategy on behalf of the organisation. Source ↗
• Invited to participate in the ITV studio audience for 'The Agenda', a prime-time topical debate programme, as Chair of Doctors for the NHS. Source ↗

Where Dr Eric Watts has been quoted

1. Who’s to blame for the NHS’s blame culture? | Letterstheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Related media coverage

Recent UK press coverage of their topics — not necessarily citing them directly.

• Leaders in Care Awards 2026 | Lifetime Achievement: Care Homes winner revealedHome Care Insight
• GP architect of neighbourhood health reforms to leave NHS EnglandPulse Today
• An important step forward in ending corridor care - Colin Poolman | Blog | RCN ScotlandRoyal College of Nursing

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://doctorsforthenhs.org.uk/about/who-we-are/

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.