BMA resists plans for London polyclinics
pharmafile | September 28, 2007 | News story | |Â Â Â
Recent government proposals to centralise London healthcare have met resistance among GPs. Independent trade union for doctors, the British Medical Association, insists the new plans will not result in better services or savings.
Lord Darzi's review of healthcare in the capital proposed a network of 150 specialised polyclinics to provide a level of service between the current GP practice and traditional general hospital.
But the BMA maintains that community hospitals are already providing the immediate functions proposed for polyclinics, and that specialist GPs can treat patients in their surgeries.
Doctors fear the bulky upfront investment necessary for the scheme will not enhance the NHS and are are concerned about the unclear plans on how the polyclinics would be run, which indicate the possibility of private organisations taking a role.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of the BMA, said the initiative would not break even financially and may leave patients with further to travel for their care.
He said: "It would be much better to invest in existing GP services and, where necessary, district general hospitals, rather than imposing costly, unproven polyclinics. The suggestion that private companies could run polyclinics would, in reality, destroy the UK model of general practice and threaten many district general hospitals. Both are respected throughout the world and are highly valued and trusted by patients."
Though disapproving of much of the report, the BMA recognises that select and more complex health services would benefit in shifting from secondary care into the community. The organisation said it would encourage limited centralisation of some services, but will push the government for serious consultations with clinicians and the public to ensure patients are seen in appropriate locations.
In contrast, the report was supported by managers of health organisation body, the NHS Confederation, who hailed the plans as "a vision to revolutionise care in London".
