MP breaks ranks on health clinics

7:57pm Saturday 3rd May 2008

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CONTROVERSIAL Government plans for a new privately-owned "super-surgery" in York have come under attack from an unexpected source - the city's Labour MP.

Hugh Bayley has broken party ranks to urge ministers to tear up plans for a giant polyclinic which would bring GP, pharmacy and social care services together under one roof, creating fears that patients could be forced to pay to see a doctor.

North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) has been commissioned to open one of the new health centres in the region by the end of the year, although it has yet to be confirmed where this will happen.

But GPs in York say they understand a "super-surgery" will arrive in York later this year and are worried it would spell the beginning of the end for free healthcare in the city and the tradition of the family doctor.

Under new legislation drawn up at the end of last year, all health providers are allowed to bid for new NHS contracts, leaving the way clear for private firms to run the polyclinics with the aim of making profits.

During a House of Commons debate, Mr Bayley spoke out against his own party's "super-surgery" plans and voiced his fears to Health Minister Ann Keen about existing GP surgeries losing out on funding to meet the costs of the new centres, which would be staffed by up to 25 doctors.

"York has some very good GPs and some very good GP practices, and many of the services proposed in the new polyclinics are already provided in practices in York," he said.

"It is important for the Government to realise the health needs of all areas of the country are not the same and that a one-size-fits-all health strategy would not be appropriate in relation to polyclinics.

"If our PCT ended up top-slicing' the resources for GP surgeries in York in order to pay for a polyclinic, it could undermine the very services now provided by GPs and practice nurses.

"I ask the Minister to ensure there is not a quick move within York to a polyclinic, and particularly not to one provided by an independent contractor, which would disrupt the reconfiguration of services which has done so much to improve services and reduce costs in York."

The Department of Health says the "super-surgeries", which would also offer physiotherapy, diabetes treatment, minor surgery and diagnostic tests, would bring healthcare closer to patients' homes than hospitals.

But this has been rubbished by critics of polyclinics, who believe they would force people to travel much further to see a doctor, while North Yorkshire's Local Medical Committee say such a centre in this region would deprive frontline NHS services of £1 million a year.

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