News
GPs campaign against polyclinics
23 May 2008
Posters and leaflets have appeared in GP surgeries across England
this week in a campaign to promote and defend GP practices as part of
the British Medical Association's (BMA) 'Support Your Surgery' campaign.
Family doctors are concerned about government plans for new health
centres (polyclinics) and GP practices, many of which may be run by
commercial providers on short-term contracts. GPs believe this could
fragment care for patients and destabilise existing services. Some
surgeries may have to reduce services for patients while others could be
forced to close.
Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA’s GP’s committee said:
“Government plans which will encourage more commercial provision of NHS
primary care may put at risk the type of NHS general practice so valued
by patients. Family doctors are deeply worried that GP surgeries will go
the same way as local branches of banks, post offices and NHS dentists
which have disappeared in many parts of the country.
"We want the Government to support existing practices, to encourage
collaboration and service development in the NHS rather than
competition, and not to waste valuable NHS resources on unwanted and
unnecessary polyclinics.”
Practices are asking their patients to sign a petition to support NHS
general practice that will be presented to the Prime Minister at Downing
Street in June. Petitions have been placed in GP practices and a new
website has been created at
www.supportyoursurgery.org.uk
The Support Your Surgery website
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