A leading local GP has slammed a much-heralded 'super surgery' in Hounslow as 'inherently unfair' to GPs and patients.
Last week, London's NHS chiefs announced the Heart of Hounslow health centre, in Bath Road, is to be transformed into one of the capital's first five 'polyclinics' as early as April.
Under the scheme, a range of GP, diagnostic and outpatient services will all be brought together under one roof with extra GPs and practices.
But Cranford doctor Alick Munro, chair of the Hounslow Local Medical Committee, told the Chronicle: "What we're concerned about is patients living in the periphery having to go a very long way to obtain services that are already available locally to them. We're also concerned about continuity of care."
He said a group of GPs were currently preparing to launch a bid to provide a third of the increased GP service at satellite practices across the borough.
However, Kirstie McLachlan, associate director at the PCT, immediately scuppered the plans by confirming any practice would have to be based at the Heart of Hounslow.
Dr Munro claims the process would be 'inherently unfair' to other GPs. He said practices in Hounslow currently received an average of between s60 and s80 per patient each year from the PCT.
But he claimed because of the way the 'polyclinic' scheme was funded any new provider could get almost twice as much.
Heart of Hounslow is an additional service to local services, not a replacement. Everyone has the choice to use local services or Heart of Hounslow if they wish. Its in a very central location, near the shopping centre, buses and Hounslow Central tube station, and one key advantage is its hours are longer, with early and late opening.
Patients records are always shared with appropriate GPs, so if they see a different doctors there is continuity of care. The tendering process for services is open, and contracts are awarded on the basis of quality and value for money. Obviously, those who tender must fulfil the requirements of the tender, as with any contract.
A Hounslow PCT spokesman said: Heart of Hounslow is an additional service to local services, not a replacement. Everyone has the choice to use local services or Heart of Hounslow if they wish. Its in a very central location, near the shopping centre, buses and Hounslow Central tube station, and one key advantage is its hours are longer, with early and late opening.
"Patients records are always shared with appropriate GPs, so if they see a different doctors there is continuity of care. The tendering process for services is open, and contracts are awarded on the basis of quality and value for money. Obviously, those who tender must fulfil the requirements of the tender, as with any contract.
