The BMA is targeting MPs with an advertisment in The House Magazine, which goes out to every MP, warning that commercially run polyclinics would put services at risk, with older people and those with chronic conditions most adversely affected.
But Health Secretary Alan Johnson has hit back, using a national newspaper column to accuse the BMA of "scare-mongering". He denies that any GP surgery will be closed to accommodate polyclinics.
In an advert published today, Juliet Dunmur and Natalie Teich of the BMA’s Patient Liaison Group say plans to create commercially run polyclinics regardless of local need, could affect local surgeries and put current patient services at risk.
“We, as patients, are extremely concerned that these plans will lead to a decline in the quality of patient care. We are concerned that older people, those less able, and those with long-term conditions will be most adversely affected.
“There could be problems of travel and access to general practice, and proper consultation with patients, the public and local GPs has not taken place.”
The advert calls on MPs to speak to their local Primary Care Trusts about plans to establish polyclinics or health centres in their constituency.
It is part of the ongoing “Support NHS General Practice” campaign. On Thursday doctors will deliver a petition to Downing Street, signed by many thousands of patients, calling on the Prime Minister to invest in existing GP surgeries and halt plans to promote the use of commercial companies in general practice.
Meanwhile pressure group Health Emergency says that US private healthcare company United Healthcare will take over the first wave of polyclinics. United Healthcare's European chief is Simon Stevens, who used to advise Tony Blair on health policy. He was head-hunted by United to drive their business into the UK NHS which has already sparked controversy with the takeover three GP surgeries in north London.
Geoff Martin, Health Emergency Head of Campaigns who is meeting with Lord Darzi tomorrow, said:
“I will be demanding answers from Lord Darzi on the scale of private sector involvement in his proposed polyclinics and will be warning him that there will be massive public opposition to the idea of companies like United Healthcare profiteering from the privatisation of local GP services.
“Politically it is suicide for the Labour Government to open the doors of our GP surgeries to the Sicko companies with their appalling track record in the States.”
When questioned by OnMedica the Department of Health confirmed that the door is open for the private sector: “We have always made clear that we have no preference for one sector over another. When you set up new services like this, you obviously want to invite all potential providers to put forward innovative, high-quality proposals. The objective is to provide the best service for patients, whether it is provided by existing GPs, voluntary organisations, social enterprises or the private sector.”
But writing in The Observer on Sunday Health Secretary Alan Johnson refutes “scare-mongering and misleading” claims that normal GP services will close to accommodate polyclinics. “The Tories are claiming that our plans mean the closure of 1700 surgeries. There is nothing further from the truth and it is extremely disappointing that the BMA would speak in equally lurid and inaccurate terms.”
Mr Johnson said that the plan is to create GP-run health centres that open from eight till eight, seven days a week. He stressed: “No current GP practices will be closed, as the new services will be in addition to existing ones and come with extra money. Most important, our 150 GP-run health centres will offer patients appointments and walk-in services without registration, so families can make use of them while they remain registered with their existing GP.”
He said that in some major cities, such as London, clinicians and managers want to go further than GP-run health centres and develop polyclinics - centres that offer an extended range of treatments. “That might be achieved by bringing several GPs into a single building or they may be 'virtual', with GPs in their existing practices collaborating more closely. I will insist that such decisions are taken in consultation with local people and driven by clinical evidence of what works. Controversy may well be caused by some GPs who fear greater choice for patients, worried that they themselves will lose out. But we have made clear that they are not going to lose funding in this process.”