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30Jun08

NO CONSULTATION ON POLYCLINICS

The Government has claimed that its polyclinics idea is not being imposed on communities.

Although Health Secretary Alan Johnson said he would “insist that such decisions are taken in consultation with local people”, new evidence uncovered by the Conservatives under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that 50 per cent of Primary Care Trusts (PCT) have not, or will not, formally ask local people whether or not they think having a polyclinic in their community would be a welcome move. Nor will they even consult them on the location of the clinics.

Many of the PCTs responded to our questions saying that the Department of Health had instructed them not to hold consultations. North Lancashire PCT said, “No. The Secretary of State decision was that PCTs were not required to go through a consultation in relation to the new health centres.” Manchester PCT said, "We can't consult on Department of Health policy." No answer has been available from Trafford PCT.

Stretford and Urmston's Conservative parliamentary spokesman commented, “Labour have claimed they are not imposing polyclinics on local people, but these figures expose that false claim. “Rather than attempt to discuss polyclinics with local people and win them over with the facts, Labour have instead resorted to spin and central dictate. They know how unpopular their plans to shut down GP services are and so have decided not to open themselves up to consultation, which would surely see this idea shelved.

“The Government should ditch their plans to impose polyclinics on communities and should allow PCTs to make their own local decisions about how and where to improve local GP services.”

 

See an earlier press relese by Mark Versallion on Polyclincs threat to GP services (29May08).