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Tower Hamlets -North East London patient survey gives polyclinics the thumbs down

A patient survey by Londonwide Local Medical Committees (LMCs) has found that over 9 out of 10 people in North East London (City and Hackney, Newham, and Tower Hamlets) would prefer to keep seeing their NHS GP at their local surgery, than to see it moved to a larger polyclinic. 

 

The Local Medical Committees (LMCs) of North East London were surprised to find that, despite a £4 million public consultation, NHS London only received 312 completed responses from the area.  This lack of awareness among the public, despite the vast expenditure by NHS London, was further illustrated by the results of Londonwide LMCs survey which found that only 24 percent of patients in North East London have even heard of ‘Healthcare for London: Consulting the Capital’.

 

In contrast to NHS London’s reports that polyclinic models have received broad support from 51% of respondents, the Londonwide LMCs patient survey has found just 17 percent of people agree or strongly agree with the proposals to implement the polyclinic model.

 

Dr Kambiz Boomla, Chair of City& East London LMC, says: “The response to our patient survey has exceeded expectations and the results tell a very different story to those published by NHS London.  We urge NHS London and Primary Care Trusts to listen to, and act upon, patient views.

 

“Our concern is primarily for our patients.  How can the implementation of a polyclinic model be justified when only 1 in 10 of our patients are in favour of these changes?  I believe the funding would be much better spent on developing existing surgeries, allowing them to expand their good range of current services and to network naturally, without coercion.”

 

Dr Boomla adds: “In Tower Hamlets, where I work, one of the most deprived parts of London, we are working closely with our PCT on a capital programme to bring GP premises up to world class standards, and to develop our clinical networks between practices.  But NHS London trying to shoehorn us into a small handful of polyclinics, distant from our patients – mostly not even in the same ward – would set us back and destroy family doctoring and personal care.”

 

End

 

Notes to Editor:

• The full report provides a breakdown of results by borough and can be downloaded at: http://www.lmc.org.uk/uploads/files/news/2008/llmcspatientsurveymay2008nel.pdf
  
• The Londonwide LMCs patient survey was completed by 1526 patients from 24 London Primary Care Trust areas during April and May 2008
• 118 of the respondents were from North East London (City and Hackney, Newham, and Tower Hamlets)
• For further information on Londonwide LMCs log on to www.lmc.org.uk
• If you have any media queries please contact Hannah Millard on hmillard@lmc.org.uk / 020 7387 2034 x239
• Londonwide LMCs is the confederation for the capital’s 6000+ GPs and practice teams,  providing  support, advice and guidance to individual GPs, plus London’s 24 Local Medical Committees
• Each Local Medical Committee is a statutory body, elects a committee of GPs to represent, negotiate and guide discussions with their local Primary Care Trust on issues affecting patient care
• Dr Stewart Drage and Dr Tony Stanton are joint Chief Executives at Londonwide LMCs

Last updated : 14 Oct 2011

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