Cash fears over polyclinics plan

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has attacked doctors' leaders and the Conservatives for suggesting GP surgeries will close as new clinics are built.

He insists that polyclinics and GP-led health centres will be created with new money and that no GP surgeries are at risk.

But the Tories said their figures showed that running GP surgeries alongside the new centres would mean an extra £1.4bn would need to be found.

The Government hit back at the claims, saying the Tories had either misunderstood the plans or were misinterpreting them.

Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw, said: "The Conservatives have either misunderstood or are deliberately misrepresenting what is happening.

"There are no plans to impose so-called polyclinics. The GP-led health centres - one in every primary care trust area - are in addition to existing services and people will be able to use them while remaining registered with their own GP.

"The Tories are making a big error in siding with the British Medical Association leadership in their mendacious and misleading campaign against better GP services and extended opening."

Health Minister Lord Darzi has proposed creating up to 150 new polyclinics - which will house GPs, specialists and services such as X-rays - in London.

The Government says it has instructed each PCT outside of London to create a GP-led health centre, which it insists are different to polyclinics.