The day-to-day running of the NHS should be separated from national politics to ensure its long-term future, doctors' leaders recommended.
Outlining an alternative approach to health reform, the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested a written constitution overseen by an independent board of governors is the way forward.
The constitution would retain the core values of the NHS while incorporating new ones such as a commitment to supporting education and research.
It would also include a charter explaining what the public can expect from the NHS and what is expected of them.
The plans are part of a set of 24 recommendations laid out in a discussion paper entitled "A Rational Way Forward for the NHS in England" launched by the BMA.
James Johnson, chair of the BMA Council, said the paper had arisen out of dissatisfaction amongst the medical community at current reforms.
He said the current reforms were "probably just about as unpopular as you can get".
He said: "Even more to the point they lack cohesion, they are contradictory."
He said there were concerns about "political dabbling in the day-to-day running of the service".
Mr Johnson said: "It is absolutely right the politicians set the actual guidelines but day-to-day dabbling when a particular topic becomes headlines is not good for the service."
