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Polyclinics - the new government health policy disaster
"Dozens of GP surgeries are being culled to make way for polyclinics. This could affect patients in Sevenoaks and other parts of West Kent shortly. Nearly 40 GP surgeries are set to close in just one North London PCT area in a dramatic illustration of the effect on local general practice of the government's drive to introduce a network of polyclinics. Patients in Haringey, north London, are taking to the streets this week in protest at plans to consolidate 57 existing surgeries into 20 health centres – which came as NHS London formally decided to press ahead with its polyclinic plans across the capital. Haringey PCT plans six polyclinics and 14 larger practices, with the ‘hubs’ set to handle 25,000 to 35,000 patients. But its own consultation document admitted there was a ‘trade-off’ between the advantages of ‘one-stop shops’ and the disadvantages of longer travelling times and damage to the doctor-patient relationship. Patient groups in the area have launched a campaign against the proposals, which they claim will lead to the closure of as many as four out of five surgeries. The PCT admitted its consultation had revealed ‘no clear consensus’ in favour of polyclinics, with concerns continuity of care would suffer and increased travelling times ‘would disadvantage older and disabled people’. There were also fears ‘people from deprived communities would not be served well’. But the PCT is forging ahead, saying its model ‘would involve a trade-off between patients having further to travel and a wider range of quality services in better premises at more convenient times’. Dr Anouska Hari, vice-chair of Westminster LMC, reacted with alarm to the plans: ‘The concerns are it might cause general practice to dissolve – that it would be swallowed up. It seems that may already be happening.’ Meanwhile, a Pulse survey reveals nationally PCTs are pushing ahead with polyclinics without even the barest assessment of the likely impact on existing practices. A survey of 28 PCTs found more than two-thirds had failed to carry out any official impact assessment of Lord Darzi’s network of GP-led health centres. Tameside and Glossop PCT said it had not undertaken an impact assessment because ‘the initiative was not optional’, and the ‘impact depends on patient choice’. Yet 72% of trusts said they expected the new health centres would take patients from existing practices. Mid Essex PCT admitted: ‘Existing practices are likely to lose patients from their lists as a result.’ GPC deputy chair Dr Richard Vautrey said consultation had been ‘tokenistic’. Consultation sham? PCTs may not have the purest of motives when deciding how to consult with patients. Patient engagement appears to come a poor second to ducking controversy and avoiding legal action, according to one document obtained by Pulse. A document from Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT’s polyclinic proposals says: ‘If the proposals are, or become, contentious, then it would be prudent to increase the planned level of engagement/ consultation.’ It adds: ‘A full public consultation exercise would insulate the PCT from criticism under its statutory duty (although it may not necessarily be a good use of resources).’ PCTs are particularly wary after a case in north-east Derbyshire in 2006, where the High Court ruled the duty to consult applied to a tender for provision of GP services to two villages. Lib Dems are opposed to polyclinics. We say that patients are best served by a doctor's surgery close to their home, not miles away from where they live." Please support the campaign to prevent this further unwanted destabilistaion of our local community - by signing the petition to save your surgery. Live News From LibDemsFri, 04 Jul 2008 18:00:44 GMT
Clegg to Implement Mec Proposals on MPs Expenses
Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg, has today committed to unilaterally introduce the recommendations of the Members Estimates Committee for independent spot checks of MPs expenses. ...
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:00:55 GMT
Zimbabwe Should be Banned From All Cricket - Foster
Commenting on Zimbabwe's decision to pull out of the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup and the ICC's failure to ban Zimbabwe from all international cricket, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said:
"Its welcome ... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:00:54 GMT
We Must Move Away From Unsustainable Biofuels - Baker
Commenting on reports that biofuels have pushed up world food prices by up to 75%, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said:
"This is extremely worrying and a clear sign that we must move away from ... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:00:53 GMT
SATS Marking Has Been A Complete and Utter Shambles - Laws
Commenting on the delay in SATS results for 11 and 14-year-olds, Liberal Democrat Shadow Children, Schools and Families Secretary, David Laws said:
"The marking of key stage tests this year has clearly been a complete and utter ... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:00:51 GMT
Cross - Party Support for Gurkhas' Bill - Lee
A Bill to give former Gurkhas indefinite leave to remain in Britain moved a step closer to becoming law after it received cross-party support in the House of Lords today. ...
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:00:18 GMT
Bad Day for MPs Accountability - Hughes
Commenting on Thursday's votes on MPs pay, Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Simon Hughes said:
"Today was a bad day for openness and accountability for MPs. ... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:00:16 GMT
Google Ruling Very Worrying for UK Consumers - Foster
Commenting on the US court ruling that Google must hand over all its YouTube user data to Viacom, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: "This ruling sets a very worrying precedent ...
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:00:14 GMT
Red Tape Stopping Police From Dealing with Shocking Costs of Crime - Huhne
Commenting on today's Taxpayers' Alliance report on the costs of crime, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"The costs of crime are shocking whether calculated financially, with violent crime accounting for half of the total ... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:00:13 GMT
Teachers Must be Freed to Teach Engaging and Topical Issues - Laws
Commenting on the report published today by education charity DEA, which finds that one in five schoolchildren are 'globally illiterate' due to a failure to teach them about world events, Liberal Democrat Shadow Children, Schools and ...
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:00:10 GMT
Motoring Taxes Hit Those Without Choice Hardest - Baker
Commenting on today's RAC Foundation report calling for a root and branch review of motoring taxation, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said:
"I support the RAC in its call for a review of motoring taxes. ... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:00:08 GMT
Britain Cannot Afford It Drain on MoD Resources - Harvey
Commenting on today's NAO report on the MoD's Defence Information Infrastructure Programme, which highlights delays and budget overruns, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:
"This report is yet more evidence of the Government's incompetence when ... Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:00:16 GMT
Cost of Aborted Plane Feasibility Studies Unbelievable and Outrageous - Baker
Commenting on figures that show feasibility studies into aborted plans to buy two private jets to carry Gordon Brown and the Royal Family cost £1. ...
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:00:15 GMT
Zimbabwean Cricket Team Must be Banned From Playing Internationals - Foster
Commenting ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting tomorrow, which is due to discuss Zimbabwe's membership, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said:
"It is extremely important that all members of the ... Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:00:14 GMT
Ministers Cannot be Trusted with Fingerprints - Huhne
Responding to the Biometric Assurance Group's (BAG) comments that officials could struggle to cope with the number of mismatched or unclear fingerprints, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"Far from being the gold standard of ... Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:00:13 GMT
Ministers Turn Blind Eye to Costly Mistakes - Willott
New figures released today show that the Department for Work and Pensions has been forced to spend £52m compensating people for mistakes made over the last 6 years. ...
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:00:11 GMT
Councils Must be Set Free - Clegg
Councils should be set free from depending on Whitehall funding by raising three-quarters of their money locally, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg will say today in a speech to the Local Government Association Conference in Bournemouth. ...
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:00:01 GMT
Bradshaw Remarks Must be Backed Up by Facts - Lamb
Commenting on comments by Ben Bradshaw that some GPs enter into 'gentleman's agreements' not to accept each others patients, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said:
"Ratcheting up his war of words with the BMA in ... Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:00:59 GMT
Nicol Stephen Outstanding Politician - Clegg
Commenting on Nicol Stephen's resignation as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:
"Nicol Stephen has been an outstanding politician and force for change in Scotland. ... Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:00:41 GMT
Government Failing Abjectly on Knife Crime - Huhne
Commenting on figures compiled by Hospital Episodes Statistics which show a dramatic rise in under-16s admitted for stab wounds, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:
"These appalling figures show that the Government's strategy for tackling ... Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:00:19 GMT
60 Per Cent of Hospitals on Emergency Alerts - Lamb
Almost two-thirds of hospitals have been on emergency alert over the last five years, according to a survey by the Liberal Democrats.
Half of hospitals surveyed will cancel or delay elective surgery when on emergency alert, ... |
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