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First five polyclinics for London | First five polyclinics for London |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The first five polyclinics for London will be up and running by next spring, healthcare officials have announced. | The first five polyclinics for London will be up and running by next spring, healthcare officials have announced. |
The polyclinics in Harrow, Hounslow, Lambeth, Redbridge and Waltham Forest will reach patients in some of the most deprived areas of the city. | The polyclinics in Harrow, Hounslow, Lambeth, Redbridge and Waltham Forest will reach patients in some of the most deprived areas of the city. |
Polyclinics will bring together GP services, social care and community healthcare under one roof. | Polyclinics will bring together GP services, social care and community healthcare under one roof. |
But critics say the proposals are wasteful and will undermine continuity of patient care. | But critics say the proposals are wasteful and will undermine continuity of patient care. |
The government plans to introduce polyclinics throughout the 31 primary care trusts (PCTs) in London within the next five years. | The government plans to introduce polyclinics throughout the 31 primary care trusts (PCTs) in London within the next five years. |
'London solution' | 'London solution' |
The new restructuring was proposed last year by health minister Lord Darzi in a review of London's health services. | The new restructuring was proposed last year by health minister Lord Darzi in a review of London's health services. |
"Polyclinics are a London solution to a London problem," said NHS London chief executive Ruth Carnall. | "Polyclinics are a London solution to a London problem," said NHS London chief executive Ruth Carnall. |
quote hereBut we don't need to do this in such a way that it risks destabilising good general practices or indeed risks sucking services out of hospitals Dr Tony Stanton, Local Medical Committees | |
"They will tackle two of the biggest problems in the capital, namely patients finding it difficult to get a GP appointment and the result which is people turning up at A&E when they should be seeing their family doctor." | "They will tackle two of the biggest problems in the capital, namely patients finding it difficult to get a GP appointment and the result which is people turning up at A&E when they should be seeing their family doctor." |
The clinics will also provide community services, outpatient clinics, pharmacy and health information as well as onsite diagnostic facilities such as blood tests, CT scans and minor surgical procedures. | The clinics will also provide community services, outpatient clinics, pharmacy and health information as well as onsite diagnostic facilities such as blood tests, CT scans and minor surgical procedures. |
In some places more than one GP service will be housed under one roof - like "networks of practices" - but patients will not lose their GPs, Dr Tom Coffey from Healthcare for London said. | |
But Dr Tony Stanton, from London wide Local Medical Committees, is not convinced. | |
"We definitely need better surgery premises, we need more diagnostic services out in the community. | |
"But we don't need to do this in such a way that it risks destabilising good general practices or indeed risks sucking services out of hospitals," he said. | |
The earmarked clinics are - Alexandra Avenue centre in south Harrow, north-west London; Heart of Hounslow centre in west London; Gracefield Gardens centre in Lambeth, south London; Loxford Centre in Redbridge and Waltham Forest PCT, both in east London. | The earmarked clinics are - Alexandra Avenue centre in south Harrow, north-west London; Heart of Hounslow centre in west London; Gracefield Gardens centre in Lambeth, south London; Loxford Centre in Redbridge and Waltham Forest PCT, both in east London. |
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