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| One-stop clinics 'are the future' | One-stop clinics 'are the future' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Clinics manned by a single doctor should be replaced by one-stop health shops run by several GPs, health minister Lord Darzi has told the BBC. | Clinics manned by a single doctor should be replaced by one-stop health shops run by several GPs, health minister Lord Darzi has told the BBC. |
| So-called 'polyclinics', which house GPs alongside medical services normally offered at hospitals, are better suited to patients' needs, Lord Darzi said. | So-called 'polyclinics', which house GPs alongside medical services normally offered at hospitals, are better suited to patients' needs, Lord Darzi said. |
| He has already proposed them for London and says they would work nationwide. | He has already proposed them for London and says they would work nationwide. |
| But the British Medical Association says they will be wasteful and will undermine continuity of patient care. | But the British Medical Association says they will be wasteful and will undermine continuity of patient care. |
| 'Fantastic relationship' | 'Fantastic relationship' |
| Lord Darzi told the BBC Breakfast programme that although "most patients love their GP" a change was coming. | Lord Darzi told the BBC Breakfast programme that although "most patients love their GP" a change was coming. |
| He said: "We need to separate that fantastic relationship between a patient and a doctor from where most practices now are on average four, five, six GPs working together under a single roof. | He said: "We need to separate that fantastic relationship between a patient and a doctor from where most practices now are on average four, five, six GPs working together under a single roof. |
| It's very important that whatever developments modern medicine brings, we don't lose that underlying personal relationship Peter Weaving GP | |
| "So I have no doubt in the future we are going to see a critical mass of general practitioners working together, rather than what we used to see in the past which were practices with a single-handed clinician." | "So I have no doubt in the future we are going to see a critical mass of general practitioners working together, rather than what we used to see in the past which were practices with a single-handed clinician." |
| But Dr Anthony Halperin, chairman of the Patients Association, said he was not convinced by the idea of GPs and specialists working under the one roof. | But Dr Anthony Halperin, chairman of the Patients Association, said he was not convinced by the idea of GPs and specialists working under the one roof. |
| "What I believe patients want is to see their own GP, to have a regular relationship with a GP, and when they require further or more specialist treatment to go to a hospital," he said. | "What I believe patients want is to see their own GP, to have a regular relationship with a GP, and when they require further or more specialist treatment to go to a hospital," he said. |
| "What you are now doing is interposing a third layer of a polyclinic and I really don't see any advantage for it." | "What you are now doing is interposing a third layer of a polyclinic and I really don't see any advantage for it." |
| Cradle to grave | |
| Peter Weaving, a GP in Brampton, near Carlisle, said being a general practitioner in the UK and being able to treat generations of the same family was a "wonderful thing". | |
| "I have been in practice for nearly 25 years," he said. "I have looked after patients from when they were babies to when they've grown up, and they've brought their babies to me. | |
| What we're really adamant about is that continuity of care, which really makes general practice in the UK the best in the world Prof Steve Field, Royal College of GPs | |
| "It's very important that whatever developments modern medicine brings, we don't lose that underlying personal relationship." | |
| Professor Steve Field, from the Royal College of General Practitioners, told the BBC the organisation was not against the principle of polyclinics as long as the doctor-patient relationship was preserved. | Professor Steve Field, from the Royal College of General Practitioners, told the BBC the organisation was not against the principle of polyclinics as long as the doctor-patient relationship was preserved. |
| He said: "What we're really adamant about is that continuity of care you get in general practice, which really makes general practice in the UK the best in the world. | He said: "What we're really adamant about is that continuity of care you get in general practice, which really makes general practice in the UK the best in the world. |
| "And what we mustn't do is undo what's great." | "And what we mustn't do is undo what's great." |
| 'Threat' to hospitals | |
| Ministers have already said they want to establish 150 polyclinics in London. | Ministers have already said they want to establish 150 polyclinics in London. |
| One such centre - the Heart of Hounslow Centre for Health in west London - opened in February 2007. | One such centre - the Heart of Hounslow Centre for Health in west London - opened in February 2007. |
| As well as 18 GPs, there is an independent living service, which includes community matrons, district nurses, physios and neuro-rehabilitation teams. | As well as 18 GPs, there is an independent living service, which includes community matrons, district nurses, physios and neuro-rehabilitation teams. |
| The service, which takes referrals by the family doctors at the centre, treats a range of patients from those with diabetes and heart conditions to people recovering from strokes and elderly people who have suffered falls. | The service, which takes referrals by the family doctors at the centre, treats a range of patients from those with diabetes and heart conditions to people recovering from strokes and elderly people who have suffered falls. |
| The centres, however, may be perceived as a threat to hospitals which, under the government's market-based reforms, are now paid per patient treated. | The centres, however, may be perceived as a threat to hospitals which, under the government's market-based reforms, are now paid per patient treated. |