1,000 GP surgeries face the axe, claims Cameron

The Tory leader claimed government plans for so-called polyclinics would mean three-quarters of the capital's traditional GP surgeries face the axe.

Nationwide, around one in five surgeries would close but London would be most affected, the Conservatives claimed. There are 8,261 GP practices in England, including 1,546 in the capital. About 1,091 London surgeries were said to be at risk.

New super-sized clinics, containing 25 GPs each, are being brought in to provide a wider range of treatments and longer opening hours.

But Mr Cameron, speaking ahead of a campaign launch in central London, said they were being imposed on communities without consultation.

"Communities which have lost their Post Office, their local shops and their local police station, are now going to lose their doctor," he said.

"Of course there are circumstances where GPs coming together in larger practices or larger premises, and offering new services, are entirely welcome. What I object to is the Government's policy-of imposing polyclinics on communities without public support and in the face of opposition from doctors."

Health Secretary Alan Johnson hit back by accusing Mr Cameron of misleading the public. He said no more than 150 of the new clinics were being opened and no traditional surgeries would be affected.

"We are opening 150 new GP-run health centres, open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week," he said. "And because this programme is all paid for with new money, none of it will lead to a reduction in traditional GP services."

Polyclinics will dispense drugs and have facilities for minor operations.

The Conservatives said their claims were based on government figures for the average number of GPs per practice. But Labour said its analysis on the London impact was "totally flawed". It said the London plans were mainly for greater collaboration between existing-GP practices which would not mean any closures. Moreover, there were no plans to extend the same scheme nationwide. The new centres were fully funded to the tune of £150 million and would not draw money from existing practices, said Labour.

A poll in Pulse magazine claimed eight in 10 GPs were against a blanket introduction of polyclinics, warning they would undermine the personal relationship between doctor and patient.