Fylde GP Practice Closure Threat

The BMA have launched a national “Support your Surgery” campaign to defend and promote NHS GP practices.

Fylde GPs are worried that government plans to introduce more commercial providers into general practice could destabilise existing services, depersonalise care and put some GP practices at risk of closure. The number of private firms winning contracts for GP practices is growing and, at the same time, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have been instructed by the government to set up new health centres, or polyclinics, that commercial providers can bid for. In many areas there has been little or no prior consultation on the need for these super surgeries.

The BMA will be sending all Fylde GP practices a campaign pack containing posters, leaflets and stickers to help them inform the public about local plans. Practices will also be asking their patients to sign a petition that will be presented to Downing Street in June as a giant birthday card celebrating the NHS at 60. Other activities will include advertising, open days in surgeries, and making contact with local MPs.

Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA’s GPs committee said: “Although large health centres may work in some areas where patients and clinicians agree on a proven need, the government wishes to impose the polyclinic model on every PCT in the country regardless of need or demand. Private commercial companies would also be able to bid for the new centres leading to fears that they will be more interested in their shareholders than patients.
“The government appears to be moving further away from the personalised care it claims to aspire to. Patients will find it more difficult to see the same GP each time and continuity of care could suffer. PCTs should be encouraged to invest in their local GP practices and support joint working between practices and local hospitals. This would allow care to be enhanced for patients without the risk of unnecessarily duplicating or destabilising existing
services, and be better value for money for the taxpayer."

Support your surgery by Signing the Petition Today!

In the 60th year of the NHS, we, the undersigned, petition the Prime Minister to:

• Continue to support our existing NHS GP surgeries
• Improve services to patients by further investment in existing GP surgeries

We also urge the Government to halt its plans to promote the use of commercial companies in general practice because this risks destabilising our local surgeries and threatens the comprehensive, high quality care we receive from our GPs. We don't want public funding to move from GP practices to commercial companies who are accountable primarily to shareholders rather than patients. We want to be treated by GPs who see us as patients, not as customers. 

SIGN THE PETITION ONLINE at supportyoursurgery.org.uk

What do you think? Add you comments to the Fylde Life Forum

Last Edited: 08/06/2008