Camden New Journal - News: GP contracts crisis meeting

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Camden New Journal
Published: 20 March 2008

GP contracts crisis meeting

A PUBLIC meeting has been called by campaigners challenging plans to allow US health giant United Health to seize control of three surgeries in Camden.
Patients, doctors and politicians will meet in the Town Hall’s main chamber at 7pm on Tuesday night. Former Health Secretary Frank Dobson and Lib Dem election rival Jo Shaw are expected to attend.
It follows the Camden Primary Care Trust’s decision to allow United Health – the largest health provider in the US – to run practices in the Brunswick Centre, Camden Town and King’s Cross.
The firm outbid local doctors for the contract and stand to make
£1million each year by running the surgeries. Doctors who missed out on the contract are also expected to speak at Tuesday’s meeting.
It has been partly called to investigate ways Camden Council might be able to intervene by referring the matter to Health Secretary Alan Johnson.
Health chiefs suffered a mauling when around around a hundred protesters attended a fiery meeting in the PCT’s headquarters in St Pancras Hospital last Monday.
The principle of introducing a private company into the healthcare system, campaigners warn, would sound the death knell of the National Health Service.
At least one patient is taking the decision to the High Court claiming the consultation was flawed. Many complainants say they were not aware a private bidder was in the running.
But PCT chiefs say they have nothing to fear. Chief executive Rob Larkman told last Monday’s meeting: “We are confident that we have come to this decision through a rigorous process.”

* The meeting is open to all at the Town Hall in King’s Cross on Tuesday from 7pm.

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