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City and Hackney - North East London patient survey gives polyclinics the thumbs down

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 effort to reach people 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 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. It should be noted that the NHS questionnaire described polyclinics as single buildings or federated models, the LMC survey asked only about the single building model.

 

Dr Colvin, Chair of City and Hackney LMC says:  “This response to our patient survey demonstrates the importance of asking unambiguous questions when undertaking a survey. Many people feel the concept of a polyclinic as a single building is not in patients’ best interests and this view was clear in the outcome of this survey. However it is likely that the networked polyclinic model would bring many benefits to patients and indeed would bring services closer to their homes. The public were not asked to comment on a vision which included their own surgeries continuing but many other services coming out of hospital closer to their homes. We urge NHS London and Primary Care Trusts to listen to, and act upon, patient views.

 

“Our concern is primarily for our patients.  The implementation of a single building polyclinic model would not be justified when only 1 in 10 of our patients are in favour of these changes. However I do believe that the concept of improving and expanding services available in primary care and working more closely with our hospital colleagues can only benefit people and that funding spent on developing existing surgeries as well as hubs for the federated polyclinic, allowing expansion of current services can only be beneficial.”
Ends

 

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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