Doctor's Notes...

In July 08 doctors representing each of Welwyn Hatfield's eight GP Surgeries wrote to local MP Grant Shapps to express their serious concern about the government's polyclinic plans.

"It is destabilising, costly, confusing for patients, duplicating resources", wrote the local GPs. "This is an extremely clear example of where one size does not fit all."

The government intends to set up a single GP practice at the QE2 Hospital site, which has already seen dramatic cuts in services. With patients travelling further to get to a central surgery, local GPs fear that it will destroy local and personal healthcare provision in the NHS.

By setting up a centralised rival service, the Government runs the risk of making GP surgeries unsustainable which could lead to their closure.

At the moment residents feel secure in the knowledge that they have a local doctor who understands their family health history, but the so called Darzi Polyclinic plan (named after the Labour Lord who invented the scheme) has sparked alarm amongst patients and healthcare professionals alike.

Responding to the letter sent to Grant Shapps on behalf of every Welwyn Hatfield GP, the Member of Parliament has written to the Secretary of State for Health pointing out how the plans are both unpopular and badly thought through.

Save My Surgery Campaign

In addition Grant Shapps MP has set up the SaveMySurgery.com campaign in order to provide local people a voice in the matter.

The Government has so far denied local people the opportunity to have their say about the proposals and in the words of Welwyn Hatfield's doctors, "One of the other issues of concern is the lack of democracy.

"Stakeholders including GPs and patients were not consulted before a decision was made to place the Darzi Surgery on the QEII Hospital Site, which we were told was the only option that was available and that it was not negotiable."

Grant Shapps intends to allow people to have their say and has invited residents and GP Surgeries to encourage signatures on this groundbreaking petition.

Are We Against All Polyclinics?

No. There is potential for them to be a good thing and, in some areas, good for the community. But top-down blanket measures don’t work for every area.

The NHS needs to offer choice, which means adapting to patients’ and doctors’ needs in local areas, not imposing things from Westminster. Local doctors in Welwyn Hatfield have protested this move (see ‘Latest News’ on this site for their letter) and patients haven’t even been asked. That’s not choice, and it’s bad for local people.

We’re protesting a move that will see our local surgeries shut down and replaced with something that doesn’t meet the real needs of our communities.

Sign the petition by clicking here.