Doctors' fears over super-surgeries

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The British Medical Association (BMA) said the clinics would result in the "commercialisation of patient care" as private firms vie for contracts to run the centres.

Health think-tank the King's Fund said that while the clinics could "present real opportunities" to treat people with long-term conditions such as diabetes, it should not be assumed they will improve patient care.

Polyclinics are effectively super-surgeries that house family doctors alongside other services such as diagnostic testing, minor surgery, physiotherapy, pharmacy or dentistry.

Health minister Lord Darzi is a fan of the model but has said the Government will not impose the clinics on local areas. Primary care trusts are best placed to plan the care for their local communities, he has said.

The NHS Confederation, which represents more than 95% of NHS organisations, called for calm in the debate around polyclinics.

It published a report saying many of the potential benefits of the new model have not been fully considered due to "misconceptions and concerns". It said the main reason for adopting the clinics is improve the quality of patient care rather than save money.

And it said there was no need for the model to disrupt continuity of care or undermine general practice.

Nigel Edwards, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said many practices were successfully operating under a similar model already. "While it may sound like the polyclinic system will not resemble the service currently provided by family doctors, in reality it should build on what is best in general practice," he added.

"Knee-jerk reactions focussing on possible problems based on pre-existing agendas rather than potential solutions could seriously jeopardise progress for patients."