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Johnson: Some singlehanders 'not up to 1948 standards'
03 Dec 08
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has launched a stinging attack on the quality of singlehanded GP practices.
Speaking at the launch of the first GP-led health centre in Bradford, the health secretary predicted that the new integrated model could spell the end of traditional singlehanded practice.
Mr Johnson courted controversy at the launch by claiming singlehanded practices often failed to match up to the quality required by the NHS at it’s launch 60 years ago.
‘Some don’t even reach 1948 standards,’ he said, claiming the new health centres were the true fulfilment of Nye Bevan’s vision for the health service.
‘This is 21st century general practice. This is Bevan's vision. In the future, there will be fewer single handed practices, with more community services in a one stop shop.’
The new centre, run by not-for-profit social enterprise Local Care Direct, which already runs out of hours services in Bradford, opened to the public for the first time this week.
Readers' comments
It may be a good idea for urban areas however centralised health care may be often difficult for the rural populace to access. Have the problems of travel been factored in for those without their own vehicles? The younger working population may find it easier to access care but at what cost to the rest.
Given the already present problems of attracting GPs to rural areas, I wonder if this is really reaching Nye Bevan's vision of health care for all? When the local GP is already 12 or 15 or 18 miles away it may be one step too far for those relying on rural care, and it will be accross the age range. Maybe the answer is a mixture rather than one size fits all!
Another political spin. There will always be a need in areas which cannot support multi-doctor practices. To say that single practices are pre-1948 standard reflects on the mentality of the politician.
I think Mr. Alan Johnson has a misguided impression about single handed practice. He needs to visit some of the very hard working practices in the inner city areas, which give excellent services to their patients.
So much has changed in recent years when single handed practices have introduced all that is recommended by the PCTs, and many of these doctors are uptodate with their annual appraisals and CME sessions they attend regularly. These days the premises and staffing is as good as any group practice with pharmacies attached to many practices.
Mr.Johnson,please do not grade the single handed practices below 1948 standards. These practices are still the back bone of general practice in UK, your remarks are a great insult to all single handed practices. For a mature politician to remark like this shows how naive he or she is and out of touch with reality