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Polyclinics solution?
THE idea of polyclinics -
large health surgeries offering
a wide range of
services and open at
weekends and on weekday
evenings - has much to commend
it, particularly for those in work
with busy lives.
Most people have experienced
difficulties in getting to see a family
doctor because many GPs do
not operate particularly familyfriendly
hours. The Government
has asked GPs to open later and at
weekends, but hardly surprisingly
they have not been very co-operative.
They have only recently negotiated
the current arrangements
involving out-of-hours
cover which brought their working
hours down to sensible levels.
Given the Government offered no
financial incentive to GPs to provide
this additional service, it hasn't
got off the ground.
The polyclinic concept seems
like a way round this impasse. If
GPs do not offer the flexibility required,
the imposition of a polyclinic
would solve the problem.
That appears to be the unstated
thrust of the policy.
GPs are understandably worried.
A polyclinic in their midst
could undermine the service they
offer and make their practices unviable.
They would have a choice of
joining the roster of 18 or more
doctors working at the polyclinic,
possibly run by a private company,
or find somewhere else to practice.
The Government says this is not
so. It says the polyclinics would be
in addition to existing GP services.
If that is so, it would seem to be
potentially very wasteful. The last
thing the NHS needs is duplication
of services.
In rural areas, the risks are obvious.
Quite how village-based
surgeries will work with a clinic
based in the nearest large market
town is not clear. It is surely inevitable
that some would not survive
and patients in some of the
most disadvantaged areas would
be faced with longer journeys to
see a GP.
The Government says this will
not happen, that polyclinics will
complement the existing family
doctor service. We are not so sure.
1:01pm Friday 27th June 2008
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