Family doctor surgeries across Weaver Vale face closure under Whitehall plans : Graham Evans, Conservative MP for Weaver Vale
Graham Evans, Conservative MP for Weaver Vale

Family doctor surgeries across Weaver Vale face closure under Whitehall plans

Cllr Graham Evans expresses concern over plans to impose ‘polyclinics’ on communities

Cllr Graham Evans, Weaver Vale’s Prospective MP, voiced hisopposition todayto Whitehall plans to replace local GPs’ surgeries with impersonal super-surgeries known as ‘polyclinics’. It has been estimated that 1,700 family doctor surgeries could be closed down across England. Estimates have suggested that across Halton and Western Cheshire PCT  11 GP surgeries could be shut under Labour’s plans.

Polyclinics are little different from a small hospital, and nothing like the independent, local GP practice with just a few doctors that patients know and trust. Labour Ministers are planning to end the era of local GP surgeries in almost every area. This will mean that patients will have to travel further to receive treatment, which will particularly disadvantage the elderly and families with small children.

Cllr Graham Evans commented,  “We already knew that the Labour Government is planning to close thousands of local Post Offices. Now I fear that local GP surgeries are in their sights. Patients will have further to travel and will be lucky to see the same GP twice.

“Labour politicians in Whitehall must not be allowed to force polyclinics on areas where they are unwanted and not needed.”

April 2008