we need your help - please sign the card to show your support
This year, the NHS is celebrating its 60th birthday. For 60 years GP surgeries have been providing the personalised care that you and your family need close to home by people who know you and your health.
But we are very worried that new government plans to change the way in which GP services are provided, will put at risk the comprehensive, high quality patient care that we provide to you.
The Threat to Your Surgery
The Government is encouraging commercial companies to run GP surgeries. These companies are accountable firstly to shareholders NOT patients.
Polyclinics
The government plans to introduce 250 large new health centres – often called polyclinics - across England, instead of funding extra surgeries in local surgeries.
These polyclinics may contain up to 25 GPs, and patients may lose the personnel relationship they usually have with their current family doctor.
As a result of these changes, many local surgeries may not survive. We believe NHS funds would be better spent on expanding the high - quality services we and other GP surgeries provide.
Why Are We So Worried?
We want you to be treated by GP’s who see you as patients, not customers.
We want the Government to:
- Improve services to patients by further investment in existing GP surgeries and not waste money on unwanted polyclinics.
- Halt its plans to encourage commercial companies to run GP surgeries.
Please Support Us – sign the NHS General Practice 60th Birthday Card, this will be presented to the Prime Minister as part of a national petition from GPs
There is an electronic version of the card that you can sign here click here.
Or sign the paper version at either the Sturminster Newton Medical Centre or Marnhull Surgery.
There is also a national website that you can access for more information http://www.supportyoursurgery.org.uk/public.php
If you do not want these changes to happen — PLEASE TELL PEOPLE!
It's not just the Prime Minister we need to tell.
- Tell your friends and family and ask them to sign our petition as well
- Write to the Primary Care Trust (PCT) which organises your local NHS services
- Write to your MP
- Write to your local Council (for the attention of their health overview and scrutiny committee)
- Write to a local or national newspaper to tell them about your views
- Click here for a list of contacts details for the people and organisations above
Your letters will be read, and your views can really make a difference!
See Also
