Darzi's five pledges for polyclinics are being ignored

doi:10.1136/bmj.a352

BMJ 2008;336:1391 (21 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.a352

Letters

Polyclinics

Darzi’s five pledges for polyclinics are being ignored

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

I see no evidence that Lord Darzi’s pledges are beinghonoured in my practice community.¹ I work in a small practiceset up four years ago in a deprived area with few doctors. Apersonal medical services (PMS) contract was awarded to theprivate, but GP led, company that runs it. The practice has1250 patients, looks after a prison, teaches medical students,and trains foundation programme doctors.

But the primary care trust (PCT) wants to amalgamate the practicewith the Darzi Health Centre. If we do not tender for the newservice the PMS contract will be terminated.

Lord Darzi’s first pledge is "benefit to patients." Asthe practice is at the top end of performance indicators, howwill our patients benefit? Continuity of care may be lost whenopening hours more than double. Extending opening hours is notcost effective, and 83% of patients are satisfied with current. . . [Full text of this article]

Anne Holmes, general practitioner

¹ Tithebarn Medical Centre, Stockton on Tees TS19 8RH

anne.holmes@ntlworld.com