Find out what Hackney GPs think about the government’s plans for the NHS

Hackney GPs and local health campaigners are holding a public meeting on Thursday 4 November about the possible effects of the government’s proposals for the National Health Service.

Local doctors have previously said they are outraged at the government’s plans for the NHS. At a meeting on Wednesday 22 September, with 80 GPs from 27 Hackney practices present, there was unanimous condemnation of the proposals in government’s White Paper, Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS.

The White Paper proposes that GPs form groups called consortiums, and take on 80 per cent of the NHS budget to  commission health services in their local area – a role presently played by local Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which are to be abolished.

GPs and campaigners say that commissioning is being forced on GPs without consultation, in spite of evidence that it raises costs without benefiting patient care. They point to a report by the Commons Health Select Committee, published in March this year, described commissioning as “20 years of costly failure”.

If the White Paper proposals go ahead, GPs will be forced to take on this commissioning role.  The White Paper makes it explicit that there should be a greater role for private health companies within the NHS, which campaigners say will undermine local NHS services. They also argue that the plans risk damaging trust between GPs and patients, and that GPs will have to manage commissioning without the time, skills or money required.

The GPs present at the meeting registered their strongest opposition, whilst acknowledging that the government is determined to impose the new structure.

In addition to the plans affecting GP services, the government’s White Paper proposes changes to local hospitals which campaigners say threatens their continued survival, making them function like private businesses, and compete with private hospitals run by big commercial companies in a free-for-all market of health services.

According to a survey on the government’s health reforms published this week by the King’s Fund and doctors.net.uk, “the government faces a considerable challenge to convince doctors that the reforms proposed in the White Paper will improve patient care. Clinicians are also concerned that the reforms risk distracting the NHS from making the necessary efficiency savings. However, more positively for the government, there is a belief, at least among GPs, that there are GPs with the capacity to lead commissioning.”

Speakers at the meeting:

Dr Paddy Glackin, GP and Medical Director, Londonwide Local Medical Committees
Dr Gary Marlowe, Hackney GP
Elaine Baptiste, Health Visitor
Councillor Luke Akehurst, Chair, Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission
Bronwen Handyside, Unite the Union (London & Eastern region) and Keep Our NHS Public

Hackney GPs and health campaigners’ public meeting
7pm Thursday 4 November
Lauriston School, Lauriston Road E9 7JS