Public+services+-+health+services+-+Local+campaigns+-+GPs+letter+(7.08)

**Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition**  **Urgent and important letter to all Haringey's GPs** 28th July 2008

 **The future of all Haringey’s local surgeries is currently under review**  **- let's work together to support our neighbourhood healthcare services**


 *  **In May Haringey PCT proposes closure of 45-48 out of Haringey’s 60 local GP surgeries - to be ‘relocated’ into 5 polyclinics**
 *  **There’s growing alarm and objections from public and GPs in Haringey & across the UK**
 *  **The Government states that polyclinics services should be additional to existing services**
 *  **In July Haringey PCT agree to review their proposals, but leave all options open**
 *  **This week local health campaigners call on PCT to send written guarantees to all GPs that no surgery will be forced to close**

Dear Dr

 In February we wrote to all Haringey surgeries alerting you to controversial proposals being discussed by the Primary Care Trust which could have a great impact on your work. We called on GPs to express their concerns about the proposals to close many local surgeries in favour of relocation to ‘polyclinics’.

 **THE PCT’s PROPOSALS** In May the PCT adopted a new ’10 year Primary Care Strategy’. This Strategy includes the following reorganisation of GP services ‘within 10 years’:

**North Tottenham** __Currently__ 16 local surgeries and Lordship Lane health centre. __Proposed__ to be cut to 3 local surgeries (Northumberland Park, White Hart Lane and Broadwater Farm) along with keeping the Lordship Lane health centre as a 'neighbourhood hub'.

**South Tottenham** __Currently__ 15 local surgeries and The Laurels and Tynemouth Rd health centres. __Proposed__ to be cut to 4 local surgeries (High Rd near Hackney, West Green, Noel Park South East and Harringay Green Lanes station) and keeping current health centres as 'neighbourhood hubs'

**Central Haringey** __Currently__ 14 local surgeries. __Proposed__ to be cut to 2 local surgeries (Bounds Green and Wood Green) and a new 'neighbourhood hub' (no site identified yet).

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif">**West Haringey** __Currently__ 15 local surgeries and the Hornsey Central Hospital site. __Proposed__ to be cut to 3 local surgeries (Muswell Hill, Highgate and Stroud Green) and keeping the Hornsey Central site as a 'neighbourhhood hub'.

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> * Taken from the Haringey PCT '10 year Primary Care Strategy', pp18 (plus see 'before and after' maps on pp27 and 28). See: //www.haringey.nhs.uk/press_room/public_meetings/2008/index.asp [papers for May 21st, item 12]//

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> It is claimed by the PCT that each ‘neighbourhood health hub’ / polyclinic would offer a broad range of services for up to 50,000 people and open for longer hours. Such ‘hubs’ would be backed up by around 12-15 remaining surgeries in Haringey. However, there are serious public concerns about access, health inequalities, impersonal services and undermining of the patient/doctor relationship, threat of privatisation (‘contestability’), long-term costs of PFI schemes, and loss of local pharmacies.

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> Polyclinics could have merit of course if used //in conjunction with// all Haringey’s existing health services, not //instead// of them. Local GP surgeries are the cornerstone of local public health care in our neighbourhoods, and the gateway for access into other NHS services. GPs should, where needed, have access to low-interest loans and other support to improve their premises and services.

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> **WIDESPREAD CONCERN AND OPPOSITION** Haringey PCT’s dramatic and experimental proposals go far beyond what the Government was asking – ie. for one polyclinic in each borough/town. They have proven to be highly controversial and have led to significant objections and opposition from patients and user groups, health campaigners and GPs. <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> For example __Dr Helen Pelendrides__, a GP representing the Evergreen House Surgery in Wood Green, has made public representations to the Council and PCT explaining that her colleagues and patients were opposed to the proposed closures, and pointed out that Haringey's GPs //'have not been consulted at all'//. She added that although she could see the benefits of additional services in health centres she saw no reason for //'the annhiliation of Haringey's local surgeries'// to achieve this. Patients from her surgery decided to launch weekly __‘Save Our Surgeries’ lobbies of the PCT__ at St Ann’s Hospital, calling on patients from other practices to join them.

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> In June the __Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee__, which has statutory powers to block any proposals for health services which would adversely impact on local residents, expressed great concern. But the Committee decided they would //'need more evidence'// including the views of GPs if they were to formally reject the proposals and refer them to the Secretary of State for review. The PCT's Acting Deputy Chief Executive Helen Brown defended the proposals, conceded that the proposed surgery closures and moves towards 'contestability' and privatisation were //'controversial'//, but added that they were //'flexible'// and not set in stone: //'Maybe there should be more than 20 surgeries.' ...'If we need to scrap the 10 year strategy then we will have to do so.'// The PCT and Council agreed there must be new consultation in the coming months to get the views of GPs and public.

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> The Council previously passed a motion unanimously which //‘calls upon the PCT to ensure that there is proper consultation with all patients registered at each practice over the relocation of each individual GP practice to a Polyclinic on a practice by practice basis.’//

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> With concern growing across the whole country, the __British Medical Association__ launched a national ‘Save Our Surgeries’ protest petition in June - over 1m signed in just a fortnight. Since then the Government has publicly pledged that polyclinics will be additional to existing services.

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> As a result, __a number of local organisations__ have now published an **Open Letter to Haringey PCT** (see enclosed) calling for all local GP surgeries to be sent written guarantees that:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif">**Haringey PCT will take no action which will result in the closure of any local surgery** (unless the patients and GPs there specifically want and request this)


 * <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif">**Any new polyclinics or polyclinics services will be in addition to existing services, and funded by extra money** (as promised by Government Health Secretary Alan Johnson and 'Healthcare for London' author Lord Darzi).

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> **PCT AGREE TO REVIEW THE PROPOSALS** In July the PCT agreed to amend and consult over their proposals. We believe this is a crucial time for all those who care about the health of Haringey’s residents to share their views and concerns, and speak up for the NHS and healthcare services.

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> **We urge all local GPs & patients to speak out publicly and make their views known to the PCT.**

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif">**What you can do**
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif">Send your views and concerns to: the Haringey PCT [ __primarycare@haringey.nhs.uk__ ], London NHS [ __hfl@London.nhs.uk__ ]; the Local Medical Committee [ __nrice@lmc.org.uk__ tel: 7387 2034 x 230, and __msharp@lmc.org.uk__ tel: 7387 2034 x 235], the Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee [Chair <__whl@gideonbull.co.uk__>]; ourselves [SHHCC < __info@haringeyresidents.org__ >] and others..
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif">Ask your patients and your patients’ committee to speak out with their views, and to join the weekly ‘Save Our Surgeries’ patients’ lobbies, Tuesdays 9am–10am at St Ann’s Hospital (PCT HQ)
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif">If you have no patients’ committee please consider setting one up straight away
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif">Contact us [SHHCC < __info@haringeyresidents.org__ >] if you or your patients’ committee wish to receive updates from us

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> sincerely

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> Dave Morris (Haringey Federation of Residents Associations): SHHCC Secretary __//info@haringeyresidents.org//__  Keith Flett (Haringey Trades Union Council): SHHCC Chair __//keith.flett@btinternet.com//__

<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"> The Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition are an alliance of local organisations determined to oppose cuts, closures and moves towards privatisation of public health services. Affiliates include Haringey Federation of Residents Associations, Health UNISON, and Haringey Trades Union Council.