|
|
 |
| |
Saturday’s protest against the privatisation of the NHS congregated in Mornington Crescent |
Valentine’s Day display of NHS love
Hundreds march to NHS headquarters and present petition opposing privatisation
PATIENTS marched through Camden Town on Saturday in a demonstration against the threat of privatisation of the National Health Service.
Traffic was stopped as the protest left Mornington Crescent to Camden Town, ending with a rally and speeches outside the headquarters of NHS Camden in St Pancras Way, King’s Cross.
A petition of almost 2,500 signatures was delivered to the reception after 10,000 “Love your NHS” cards had been distributed by the lobby group.
Candy Udwin, chairwoman of Keep Camden GPs in the NHS, said: “We are proud that in Camden patients have taken to the streets to make our voices heard. Campaigns like ours are beginning to force local Primary Care Trusts to retreat.”
The march comes on the back of calls for a borough-wide referendum on whether private firms should be allowed to bid for health contracts in Camden.
The straight forward Yes/No vote is being seriously considered at the Town Hall ahead of a series of significant contracts being put out for tender later this year.
NHS Camden this week announced to doctors that a “GP-led health centre” – the Department of Health’s new name for a polyclinic – will open in south Camden.
It is expected to be in the Logica Building at the junction of Hampstead Road and Drummond Street, Euston.
The new centre, which will be run by doctors from outside of Camden, will look to attract thousands of existing Camden patients with extra opening hours and a new building.
Dr Steve Amiel, representing doctors as chairman of the Camden branch of Londonwide Medical Committees (LMC), said: “The centre will have to build up its own list of at least 6,000 patients that will come from nearby practices.
“This is not an under-doctored area – otherwise we would support the health centre.
“If the surgery is open seven days a week, in a brand new premises, it will attract the kind of patients that are younger, fitter and more mobile.
“These patients are the least drain on a GP’s resources.
“So not only will the surgeries lose out numerically, but they will face more demand from the patients they keep.”
NHS Camden said it would consult on the proposals before putting the service out for tender later this year.
A spokeswoman said: “NHS Camden has informed the Local Medical Committee that a GP-Led Health Centre [GPLHC] will be procured in South Camden, identified as the area of significant housing development and health needs.
“Negotiations are underway about a number of sites and NHS Camden can confirm that it has not at this time purchased or leased any property in relation to the GPLHC.
“NHS Camden is launching a consultation strategy imminently on its primary and urgent care strategy, of which the GPLHC is a key component. For the GPLHC, NHS Camden will not be consulting on the core services or method of procurement.” |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
