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Camden News - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 10 July 2008

Polyclinics was ‘Bevan dream’

SETTING up polyclinics will realise the dream of NHS founder Nye Bevan, according to Health Minister Alan Johnson.
Mr Johnson was speaking at the annual Aneurin Bevan Lecture at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday to mark the service’s 60th birthday.
He said: “Bevan said he wanted health centres throughout the country, and I am trying to create Nye’s policy with the introduction of polyclinics. It was part of his 10-point plan for the NHS. He did not want lots of isolated GPs, he wanted modern health centres.”
He said Bevan’s plans were scuppered by GPs and that the history of the NHS was marked by the constantly fractious relationship between government ministers and doctors’ representatives, the British Medical Association.
Mr Johnson said: “I have gone through some difficulties with the BMA – but there has never been a minister the BMA can agree with.”
He claimed the history of the BMA was one of protecting doctors’ interests, even at the expense of progressive government policies.
Mr Johnson added: “The BMA fought against setting up the health service and the government had to agree to allow them to practice privately.”

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