GP ‘super-clinics’ health warning

Jun 13 2008 by William Green, The Journal

NORTH East health chiefs yesterday insisted proposals for new health centres would improve patient care amid claims they will result in local GP practices closing.

Ministers have ordered “super-surgeries” – housing GPs and other services like blood tests and X-rays – in every part of England and plans have been drawn up for centres in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham.

Regional NHS bosses yesterday insisted the proposals were not about cutting GP or community services but improving services and moving them closer to where people live.

But the move has sparked controversy with doctors’ leaders and campaigners fearing local surgeries, particularly in rural areas, will close because budgets will be squeezed to pay for new clinics.

The Conservatives claim up to 1,700 existing GP practices could close with patients forced to travel further to “polyclinics”, with the distance for Berwick residents jumping from 3.4 to 11.4 miles.

And there would be a £1.4bn “black hole” in Government finances if clinics are built and no GP services have to close, according to the Tories. Northumberland campaigner Jonathan West, who chairs the Friends of Bellingham Surgery group, said: “It is a complete and utter waste of money.

“The money that could be spent on improving GP surgeries locally is being spent on these initiatives.”

Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the British Medical Association’s GPs Committee, said general practice was being “dumbed down”.

“It will see the rise of clinics further away from the patients they serve and providing much less of the personal care and commitment they value,” he said. “It will see the rise of doctors in primary care who will know a lot about bits of the patient but not much about the family in context.

“This will be bad for these doctors and GPs and, most importantly, bad for the patients.”

The BMA delivered a petition with 1.2 million signatures to Downing Street yesterday calling for local GP surgeries to be protected.

It also demanded ministers stop encouraging use of private firms to deliver primary care – something the BMA calls “creeping commercialisation”.

But Prime Minister Gordon Brown accused the BMA of making “ill-founded” and “wrong” allegations, insisting the scheme would increase access to care rather than replacing existing GPs.

Up to 150 polyclinics will appear across London over the next 10 years but the Government insisted GP-led health centres are different, as the model in the capital may not work elsewhere. Campaigners believe ministers have dropped the term “polyclinic” due to its unpopularity.

'No threat' to existing services

THE NHS in the North East has no plans for GPs to work only from polyclinics, health chiefs insist.

The North East’s strategic health authority said additional GP surgeries would open in places with the worst provision of services and a new health centre for each primary care trust (PCT) area.

"These new facilities do not threaten existing services. Patients will still have the choice to continue seeing their own GP, or to use the new services if they are more convenient, so there is no reason why people should have to travel further to see a doctor," said a spokeswoman.

In Newcastle, locations being considered for two new GP services and a health centre are Cowgate/Blakelaw, Byker/Walker and Great North Park.

Health chiefs say the Battle Hill area in North Tyneside would benefit most from a new health centre, with Cramlington suggested as the best location in Northumberland.

In County Durham, Easington has been identified as having the greatest need for a new health centre.

Centres will include a new GP service and house services from X-rays, ultrasound, clinics for people with muscle and bone problems and support patients with long-term conditions.

They will open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week and provide walk-in services for people with minor injuries and illnesses.