World | UK
Doctors frown at move to change GP system
Doctors' leaders criticised suggestions yesterday that many GP surgeries across England could be replaced by a network of large health centres.
- Reuters
- Published: 01:26 February 17, 2008
London: Doctors' leaders criticised suggestions yesterday that many GP surgeries across England could be replaced by a network of large health centres.
Government Health Minister Lord Darzi told the BBC that the days were over for single GPs working alone in a small practice.
He said the future of patient care was in large local health centres or "polyclinics", grouping together GPs, nurses and specialists.
But the British Medical Association (BMA) said the plans would duplicate care and be more expensive.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown brought leading surgeon Darzi into the government last year and gave him the task of producing a blueprint for the future of the National Health Service.
Darzi has already proposed a network of 150 polyclinics for London and will deliver his NHS plan in the summer, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the state-funded service.
The BBC said Darzi wanted to extend the network across the country.
"I'm recommending polyclinics because there is plenty of evidence ... that integrated care around the needs of the patient ... is the way that healthcare should be delivered in future," Darzi said. "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."
Share this article
UK
'US raised Iraq issue hours after 9/11'
Cars explode in massive London fire
Large fire hits London: 310 people evacuated
Duchess of York's missing PA found
London Business School honours Mohammad
3-year-old boy stabbed to death by father
Queen gets new dress on birthday card
Commission begins inquiry into Iraq war
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Into an oasis of values
A place to snuggle in the warmth of old manners away from the bustle of city life
-
The walking MP
Rory Stewart's long walk in life has taken a new turn
-
What drives Africa's new kind of refugees?
Warming-driven factors have led many in the continent to flee their homes
