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Govt dismisses general practice concerns

09/06/2008

The government has insisted that care will not be affected by proposed changes to care provided by GP surgeries.

Concerns have been raised by the British Medical Association (BMA) that certain groups, including the elderly and less able, will be adversely affected.

In an advertisement today in the MPs' magazine The House, Juliet Dunmur and Natalie Teich from the BMA's patient liaison group appeal to politicians to discuss plans for general practice with local GPs and primary care trusts.

They say they are concerned plans for GPs are "a step backwards for community health" and that "there could be problems of travel and access to general practice".

But a spokesperson for the Department of Health (DoH) said care would not be adversely affected and that changes would result in "more choice in addition to current care".

"We are not imposing super surgeries or polyclinics or replacing existing services," they added.

"[Extra] GP-led health centres will complement existing GP practices and serve as an extra way to see a doctor.

"This will be a valuable service for patients and families across the country, particularly if they want to see a GP when they are away from home or at times that their local GP practice is not open."