GPs oppose private clinic plans

Polyclinics bring a range of specialist care under one roof

Doctors from Oxfordshire have met an opposition politician to object to plans to set up a private so-called polyclinic in Banbury.

The doctors said they feared the new clinic would have a detrimental impact on their traditional surgeries.

The private health centre, which is to open in 2009, would be open 12 hours a day, seven days a week and would cost the NHS more than £1m per year to run.

However, doctors said the centre would lead to practices having to close.

Opponents also claim they could provide the same services for much less money.

The doctors met Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

In a local medical ballot conducted by the British Medical Association (BMA), more than 95% of responses opposed the centre.

Medical ballot

Dr Ann Lansley from West Bar Street Surgery said: "Our worry is that people will go to the centres either because they see it as a very quick was to see a doctor or as new and exciting.

"But they may not get that background of the knowledge of the patient and know the things that have happened to them medically in the past and therefore may not actually get the best care."

But health minister Ben Bradshaw defended the plans: "People will still be able to use them while remaining registered with their own GP.

"So they will have a choice and I think people would appreciate being able to see a GP at a time more convenient to them."

The idea of polyclinics - which would house diagnostic as well as GP services under one roof - is a controversial one, which has been opposed by the British Medical Association.

The establishment of the clinics was proposed by the surgeon Lord Darzi in a review of London's health services last year.

Since he became health minister, he has recommended a separate network of 150 GP-led health centres be set up across England.