Doctors ‘scaremongering’ over polyclinics
pharmafile | June 10, 2008 | News story | |Â Â Â
The health secretary has hit back in the fight over polyclinics saying the BMA is not being honest with its claim that the new centres will force the closure of traditional surgeries.
Alan Johnson accused leaders at the doctor's association of "scaremongering" with a "gross misrepresentation of the truth", and has attacked them of siding with the Conservatives on the issue.
Plans for 150 new polyclinics were unveiled by health minister Lord Darzi last year, and the government has come under fire from GPs, consultants and doctors about the proposals ever since.
The BMA believes the clinics will threaten the traditional surgeries the public values without bringing any real benefit to patients. The Tories also oppose the move, saying it will lead to the closure of 1,700 GP practices.
But Johnson rejected outright the claim polyclinics would lead to surgery closures or cuts in services.
"There is nothing further from the truth and it is extremely disappointing that the BMA would speak in equally lurid and inaccurate terms [as the Conservatives]," he said.
Johnson stressed that some centres would bring a group of surgeries together "virtually", to avoid either closing current practices or the investment and upheaval needed for new buildings.
The Department has now begun calling the new centres 'GP-led health centres' rather than 'polyclinics', possibly to dilute opposition, and has put aside £150 million to buy premises.
Lord Darzi is expected to release his final report on reforming the NHS this month, though the strong opposition could see the government back down from forcing areas to adopt the polyclinic model.
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