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Dr Stephen Amiel |
A&E role for hospital polyclinic GPs?
UNDER-fire Bloomsbury GPs could be asked to assess patients who turn up at the accident and emergency unit if they agree to move into a polyclinic at University College London Hospital.
The Museum, Gower Place, Gower Street and Bedford Square practices are facing closure under a plan to open a super-surgery at the front entrance of the hospital.
The surgeries’ doctors have so far resisted the polyclinic plan, fearing they would be burdened by extra work.
An internal NHS London presentation, seen by the New Journal, reveals the hospital polyclinic would be linked to an urgent care centre (UCC) staffed by GPs and open 24 hours a day.
The changes are being introduced to speed up hospital waiting times and offer patients better access to doctors.
Dr Stephen Amiel, who represents Camden doctors on the Local Medical Committee, said: “Doctors fear they may be tied up with other duties. Everyone has been waiting to see what the changes to the unscheduled care was going to be. UCLH seem to be the leader in this but it is very clear the UCCs will be rolled out across London.”
Plans for a 24/7 GP desk in hospital front entrances have led to concern about the impact on the popular doctors’ co-operative Camidoc. The not-for-profit company, which provides out-of-hours service for Camden patients, won a contract extension following protests from Keep Camden GPs in the NHS group.
Camidoc chief executive Michael Golding said: “We see the development of urgent care centres as an opportunity rather than a threat. It is part of a London-wide reconfiguration of urgent primary care to make it a fully integrated 24/7 service. Once you move to 24/7 urgent care, the traditional concept of an out-of-hours service becomes less relevant.”
Health campaigners believe the UCCs, with one proposed for the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead following a pilot at the UCLH, would be run by private firms.
The New Journal revealed a fortnight ago that Camden Primary Care Trust held secret talks with Richard Branson’s Virgin empire about running services in the UCLH polyclinic.
But the newly formed health arm of Virgin rejected the approach by the PCT, which is now pursuing Clinicenta to run the service. The private company, endorsed by the Department of Health as an urgent care specialist, is believed to be top of a list of bidders.
It is also believed the Primary Care Trust has already agreed a deal with UCLH, offering it £3million a year to rent space on two floors of the hospital.
Consultation on the plans is expected to begin in early autumn.
A PCT spokeswoman said: “Camden PCT is working jointly with UCLH about the potential to develop an integrated care centre in phase two of the main hospital site, which will shortly go out to public consultation.
“A business case is being developed that has not yet been approved by the PCT board. The PCT is in dialogue with a range of stakeholders and providers, including local GPs.” |
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