Shropshire family doctors are backing a campaign to promote and defend NHS general practice.

Surgeries across the county are collecting signatures from patients for a nationwide petition, to present to the Prime Minister in June.

Doctors are worried about Government plans for new health centres – polyclinics – and GP practices, many of which may be run by commercial providers on short term contracts.

GP’s fear this could fragment care for patients and destabilise existing services. Some surgeries may have to reduce services for patients while others could be forced to close.

Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the British Medical Associations GP’s committee said: “Family doctors are deeply worried that GP surgeries will go the same way as local branches of banks, post offices and NHS dentists which have disappeared in many parts of the country.

“We want the Government to support existing practices, to encourage collaboration and service development in the NHS rather than competition, and not to waste valuable NHS resources on unwanted and unnecessary polyclinics.”

The Government’s plans were condemned at a meeting of the Shropshire Local Medical Committee which represents the county’s GP’s.

Concern was raised that the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust has been told to develop a health centre, costing possibly £12 million, with no extra funding.

There were worries too that Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trust proposals for a GP-led health centre in Telford town centre and new GP practice at the Princess Royal could destabilise the hospital’s A&E unit.

Fears were also voiced that if practies were run by commercial companies on short-term contracts, this would lead to a higher turnover of doctors.

It was said that UK general practice was prized for its long-term continuity of care, and the personal relationship fostered between doctor and patient.

The meeting called on the Government to invest in improved patient services in existing GP surgeries and not in polyclinics.

By Dave Morris