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Super surgery fears remain intense | Super surgery fears remain intense |
(1 day later) | |
By Graham Satchell BBC News in Grimsby New GP surgeries are already being builtContracts are being negotiated - bids are going in. The much fought over super surgeries in England are becoming a reality. But who will run them and why are GPs still so angry? | By Graham Satchell BBC News in Grimsby New GP surgeries are already being builtContracts are being negotiated - bids are going in. The much fought over super surgeries in England are becoming a reality. But who will run them and why are GPs still so angry? |
Grimsby is one of the most deprived parts of England. | Grimsby is one of the most deprived parts of England. |
It has high levels of heart disease, obesity and teenage pregnancy - no better place then than Grimsby, you would think, for a new super surgery. | It has high levels of heart disease, obesity and teenage pregnancy - no better place then than Grimsby, you would think, for a new super surgery. |
The government in Westminster wants to see 152 of them, one for every primary care trust in England. They will not be set up in the rest of the UK. | The government in Westminster wants to see 152 of them, one for every primary care trust in England. They will not be set up in the rest of the UK. |
There has been a great deal of confusion about these centres. | There has been a great deal of confusion about these centres. |
They are not polyclinics, which are a half-way house between a GP surgery and a hospital and will only be set up in London. | They are not polyclinics, which are a half-way house between a GP surgery and a hospital and will only be set up in London. |
What the rest of England will get are GP-led health centres. They will have a range of services, including GPs. | What the rest of England will get are GP-led health centres. They will have a range of services, including GPs. |
You will not have to register to be seen, and the key thing about them is access. | You will not have to register to be seen, and the key thing about them is access. |
They will be open seven days a week from 8am until 8pm. | They will be open seven days a week from 8am until 8pm. |
Heavy users | Heavy users |
At a church hall in Grimsby I met a group of ladies playing Bingo. | At a church hall in Grimsby I met a group of ladies playing Bingo. |
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Why doctors in Grimsby are opposed to the 'super surgery' | |
They are heavy users of their local primary care services, and most say they are happy with the service they currently get. | They are heavy users of their local primary care services, and most say they are happy with the service they currently get. |
But the idea of a new health centre with long opening hours goes down well. | But the idea of a new health centre with long opening hours goes down well. |
"Walk in anytime? Sounds good," said one woman. | "Walk in anytime? Sounds good," said one woman. |
"I think it would be marvellous," said another. "Particularly at weekends because you do get poorly at the weekends. I think it would be ideal." | "I think it would be marvellous," said another. "Particularly at weekends because you do get poorly at the weekends. I think it would be ideal." |
But not everyone is so happy. Local GPs are livid. | But not everyone is so happy. Local GPs are livid. |
They say the money being spent on the new centre - around £1m - could be much better spent providing services that are actually needed. | They say the money being spent on the new centre - around £1m - could be much better spent providing services that are actually needed. |
They worry about continuity of care, and they claim existing GP services will be threatened. | They worry about continuity of care, and they claim existing GP services will be threatened. |
'No need' | 'No need' |
Dr Suven Sakarr has been a GP in Grimsby for more than 20 years. | Dr Suven Sakarr has been a GP in Grimsby for more than 20 years. |
"We do not need a GP-led health centre," he said. | "We do not need a GP-led health centre," he said. |
The proposals may work well in the larger cities but not in the rest of England Dr Ekta Elston | The proposals may work well in the larger cities but not in the rest of England Dr Ekta Elston |
"We are open almost all the time. Do the patients need that sort of access? Do the patients need to go anytime to a polyclinic? I don't think they do." | "We are open almost all the time. Do the patients need that sort of access? Do the patients need to go anytime to a polyclinic? I don't think they do." |
There is another reason GPs here are upset. Grimsby has already been building new surgeries. | There is another reason GPs here are upset. Grimsby has already been building new surgeries. |
Here they call them Primary Care Centres. Most have a range of services, a dentist, a pharmacy, community and mental health services. | Here they call them Primary Care Centres. Most have a range of services, a dentist, a pharmacy, community and mental health services. |
"They have taken a one size fits all approach to it," said Dr Ekta Elston, another local GP. | "They have taken a one size fits all approach to it," said Dr Ekta Elston, another local GP. |
"The proposals may work well in the larger cities but not in the rest of England." | "The proposals may work well in the larger cities but not in the rest of England." |
Private providers | Private providers |
However, even thought Dr Elston is opposed to the new centre she has decided to bid to run it with other local GPs. | However, even thought Dr Elston is opposed to the new centre she has decided to bid to run it with other local GPs. |
Why? Because she is worried that a private company may win the contract. | Why? Because she is worried that a private company may win the contract. |
"It is the NHS and it doesn't feel like the NHS if you have got private companies involved," she said. | "It is the NHS and it doesn't feel like the NHS if you have got private companies involved," she said. |
"I'm sure that patient care is top of their agenda but above that comes making money. I don't think that is right." | "I'm sure that patient care is top of their agenda but above that comes making money. I don't think that is right." |
It is a question of regulation, not who the provider is Rory McRaeChilvers McCrea Healthcare | It is a question of regulation, not who the provider is Rory McRaeChilvers McCrea Healthcare |
The new GP-led health centres are open to private providers. Rory McCrea is an NHS GP who runs 37 GP practices. | The new GP-led health centres are open to private providers. Rory McCrea is an NHS GP who runs 37 GP practices. |
He owns a company called Chilvers McCrea Healthcare and he's bidding to run some of the centres. | He owns a company called Chilvers McCrea Healthcare and he's bidding to run some of the centres. |
"Traditional GP practice has failed in really delivering a lot more access that people want," said Dr McRae. | "Traditional GP practice has failed in really delivering a lot more access that people want," said Dr McRae. |
"It struggles with telephone systems, it has struggled with investment. | "It struggles with telephone systems, it has struggled with investment. |
"I can understand people having concerns but the real issue from a taxpayers point of view is transparency. | "I can understand people having concerns but the real issue from a taxpayers point of view is transparency. |
"Whoever the provider is are they going to do a decent job and are we going to see what they are doing with their money. It is a question of regulation, not who the provider is." | "Whoever the provider is are they going to do a decent job and are we going to see what they are doing with their money. It is a question of regulation, not who the provider is." |
GPs, of course, are private providers within the NHS. They are not salaried employees, they have contracts. | GPs, of course, are private providers within the NHS. They are not salaried employees, they have contracts. |
Whoever ends up running them 152 new surgeries, open all hours, are on the way. | Whoever ends up running them 152 new surgeries, open all hours, are on the way. |
They may change the face of general practice in England as we know it. | They may change the face of general practice in England as we know it. |
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