BMJ  2008;336:1145 (24 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39583.689433.3A

Letters

All about polyclinics

What is and what is not a polyclinic

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

I was shocked to see the polyclinic in Hove hailed as an example of one of the only polyclinics in the country.¹ I strongly supported the principle in the early 1990s, obtaining funding from the then regional health authority to build it, but it developed as far from the polyclinic concept as you will find.

The original concept was a new large general practice in Hove incorporating additional space for such luxuries as a hydrotherapy pool, physiotherapy, and outpatient and minor surgery facilities. Local general practitioners were antagonistic because their autonomy was being removed, the concept being sold to them as, "Would you like your patients to be seen at Dr Higson’s surgery for their outpatient appointment?" Local health service managers lacked enthusiasm for a building with only one room for a manager. I therefore declined the funding and passed the monies to the local community trust.

The development that . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ Goodwood Court Medical Centre, Hove BN3 3ER

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