Blow to flagship NHS policy as 'first polyclinic' is too costly to keep open

The decision by Islington primary care trust to close the centre in Finsbury Park follows the Government's pledge to build 150 polyclinics across the capital, housing dentists, mental health experts and maternity nurses.

Critics say it is a blow for NHS chiefs who have stood by plans for the costly "super-surgeries" despite claims they will destroy relationships built up between patients and family doctors.

Set up in 1938, the centre in Pine Street houses GPs, dentists, health visitors, physiotherapists, podiatrists and speech therapists. Islington PCT plans to distribute these services across the borough.

But Bridget Fox, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Islington South and Finsbury, said: "It is crazy that some people are having polyclinics imposed on them when they don't want them but we have one that works and it is being taken away.

"The health centre predates the NHS and is a very valued part of the local community. It brings together a whole range of services under one roof. It may not be identified as a polyclinic but it does the same things as one."

Islington PCT said it could not afford to maintain the centre because it was housed in a Grade-I listed building. A spokeswoman for the trust said: "We recognise that within our local community there is a historical attachment to the building.

"Unfortunately, it is now in a very poor state of repair, has extremely inadequate disabled access and is no longer fit for purpose.

"To rectify this and repair and modernise the building, we would need to pay an additional £500,000 a year on top of the rent. We believe that NHS money is better spent on direct patient care."

Tony Hoolaghan, the trust's locality director, said: "We are not really here to look after historic buildings - we are here to provide healthcare."

Healthcare for London, which is responsible for creating the capital's polyclinics, insisted the centre was not a polyclinic because it did not offer X-rays, blood tests or minor surgery.

A spokeswoman said: "This is a local decision around the future of an ageing building which currently houses a health centre. It does not impact on the future provision of polyclinics because there is no capacity for development within the existing premises."

She added: "A health centre is not a polyclinic, which goes much wider - this includes extended services such as diagnostics, minor surgery facilities and extended opening hours situated in accessible and modern environments.

"Crucially, a polyclinic must also meet disability access requirements."