NHS - Buildings First? Or Patients First?

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 25 Feb 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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The concept behind Polyclinics, recently described by Health Minister Lord Darzi, could result in huge improvements to the local NHS:

- Diagnostics and treatments provided in the community whenever possible.

- Integrating GP practices with specialists traditionally based in hospital - and with other primary care and social services too.

- A flexible model that can be developed organically by frontline clinicians and managers.

The danger to be avoided is focusing on the building rather than the patient, the NHS Alliance says.

That could too easily result in services that are convenient for normally fit, healthy commuters - those who do not often need the NHS - and services that are inaccessible and inappropriate for those with long term illness, the elderly and people with complex conditions - the very people who need it most.

In many areas, Polyclinics could be based around a collaboration of existing GP practices, community hospitals and other primary care facilities. They could provide diagnostics like ultrasound and endoscopies, access to specialist treatments - even surgery - alongside traditional family doctor services, and without disrupting any one of their existing patients. What's more, they could deliver a group of local centres for health, providing help and support to those who want to improve their fitness and wellbeing.

The difference would be that services are spread across several sites, but available to the total patient population. What might be called Virtual Polyclinics. And there would be no cost to the NHS for bricks and mortar.

NHS Alliance chairman Dr Michael Dixon said:

"The principles behind Polyclinics are important and should be supported.

"No-one wants to see primary care slavishly following a particular model or prescription. Far better to allow frontline clinicians and managers, who know the needs of their own local communities best, to decide how to put principles into practice.

"Then we won't end up with a costly focus on structures rather than function. And we can make sure those who need the health service most continue to get the continuity and personal care that is essential."

Notes

1.The NHS Alliance is a collaboration of professionals who put patients first. Values based, it is the only organisation that brings together PCTs with GP practices, clinicians with managers and Board members, and NHS primary care with its patients. The Alliance membership and its hard working national executive is fully multi-professional.

NHS Alliance