Petition to save the local GP

Last Modified: 17 May 2008
Source: ITN

Patients around the country are being urged to sign a petition to save their local GP's due to fears many surgeries will be closed.

The British Medical Association is behind the petition in protest against government proposals to introduce so-called "supersurgeries" in every area of England.

They are being recommended as part of a branch review of the NHS by the Health Minister Lord Darzi who wants create 150 new health centres, which are designed to offer extra services.

But the BMA is warning the "supersurgeries" will damage GP services and potentially lead to the closure of hundreds of small practices.

It is also worried patients will lose out with an end to personalised treatment and the ability to see the same doctor at every visit.

Every GP practice have been sent posters and leaflets advertising the petition, which will be presented to Gordon Brown next month.

"Family doctors are deeply worried that GP surgeries will go the same way as local branches of banks, post office and NHS dentists, which have disappeared in many parts of the country," said Dr Lawrence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GP's committee.

"We want the government to support existing practices, to encourage collaboration and service development in the NHS rather than competition, and not to waste valuable NHS resources on unwanted and unnecessary polyclinics."

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