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Health hive-off claim is nonsense, says MP
WORCESTER'S MP has dismissed as "nonsense" claims that a GP-led health centre will lead to the privatisation of the local health service.
Labour MP Mike Foster said he would meet Dr Simon Parkinson, medical secretary of the Worcester-shire Local Medical Comm-ittee, who represents the county's 450 GPs, to discuss concerns about the proposed GP-led health centre in Worcester.
Dr Parkinson is due to hand in a petition against the GP-led health centre to Number 10 Downing Street with 3,000 names on Tuesday, April 1.
He has attacked the centre as privatisation by the back door and argued that the money would be better spent on helping GPs provide better health care in Worcester-shire.
The £1 million-a-year walk-in health centre would be open 8am to 8pm seven days a week but a site has yet to be agreed by the Worcestershire Primary Care Trust.
Mr Foster confirmed he had received a letter from Dr Parkinson about the visit to Downing Street and would discuss the issue with GPs. He added: "We will be meeting soon to discuss his concerns. As far as I'm concerned it's not the back door to privatisation. That's utter nonsense.
"This is about having a greater accessibility of general practice care to people who are more socially mobile and don't perhaps have that more intimate relationship with their GP.
"I know Dr Parkinson is keen to preserve that relationship, which is where we need to be.
"Some people who would need access to general practice are not that fussed who they see, in which case why not offer an NHS service in a central population where it's likely to be well used?
"It's not to undermine general practices." The GP-led health centre has already prompted Paul Bates, the chief executive of Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, to say that GPs will probably never be happy about the plans. There has been a unanimous vote by Wych-avon district councillors in favour of a motion recognising the "damage" being done to general practice.
John Smith, chairman of Worcestershire County Council, said the centre was "another crazy Government initiative" when he add-ressed a health overview and scrutiny meeting last month.
7:39am Friday 21st March 2008
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CommentPosted by: local resident, worcester on 11:45am Fri 21 Mar 08
After the stupidity of a lot of the comments from our local MP. is it any wonder if no one beleives him?
After the stupidity of a lot of the comments from our local MP. is it any wonder if no one beleives him?
Posted by: Alan2, Worcester on 12:07pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Well now local resident, apart from all the other questionable utterances of our Mr Foster, after he - and all the others in the Government broke their promise to give us a referendum on the EU Treaty/Constitution, the question is, who would we ever believe again?, an MP who puts his party and Labour politics before his "parishioners" or our Doctors who many of us put our total trust in and have had no cause to question that trust.
Mr Foster is not even in the frame, I wouldn't believe a word that he said. It's the Doctor's that should be trusted every time.
Well now local resident, apart from all the other questionable utterances of our Mr Foster, after he - and all the others in the Government broke their promise to give us a referendum on the EU Treaty/Constitution, the question is, who would we ever believe again?, an MP who puts his party and Labour politics before his "parishioners" or our Doctors who many of us put our total trust in and have had no cause to question that trust.
Mr Foster is not even in the frame, I wouldn't believe a word that he said. It's the Doctor's that should be trusted every time.
Posted by: local resident, worcester on 1:06pm Fri 21 Mar 08
alan,
certainly not any politician who puts party first, at least independant candidates have a mind of their own.
I agree about trusting the doctor first.
There is a great need in Worcester for minor injuries unit to take the pressure off A & E.
I broke my arm in Dorset, was seen at a local minor injuries before being transfered to A & E. If it had been a sprain or something like that they would have treated and advised on it. People want to ask about something that is bothering them, but the national health budget should finance this as it does in Dorset. Postal code lottery again.
alan,
certainly not any politician who puts party first, at least independant candidates have a mind of their own.
I agree about trusting the doctor first.
There is a great need in Worcester for minor injuries unit to take the pressure off A & E.
I broke my arm in Dorset, was seen at a local minor injuries before being transfered to A & E. If it had been a sprain or something like that they would have treated and advised on it. People want to ask about something that is bothering them, but the national health budget should finance this as it does in Dorset. Postal code lottery again.
Posted by: Logik, worcester on 1:41pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Only a idiot would believe anything uttered by Michael Foster.
Far from serving his constituents, the only person he serves is himself and his Nu-Labour masters.
Only a idiot would believe anything uttered by Michael Foster.
Far from serving his constituents, the only person he serves is himself and his Nu-Labour masters.
Posted by: Alan2, Worcester on 2:47pm Fri 21 Mar 08
I agree with every point that you make local resident.
I agree with every point that you make local resident.
Posted by: John White, Evesham on 6:50pm Fri 21 Mar 08
I must agree with every person on this blog today.Not one MP would I trust since this fiasco about keeping promises about their manifesto to the people of this country.
I must agree with every person on this blog today.Not one MP would I trust since this fiasco about keeping promises about their manifesto to the people of this country.
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