Commons debates polyclinic plans

The Conservatives have claimed that thousands of GP surgeries are under threat from government plans for new 'polyclinics'.

Ahead of an Opposition day debate in the Commons on Tuesday, the Tories pointed to documents produced by primary care trusts suggesting that 1,100 surgeries could close in London and 600 in the rest of England.

The debate came after an escalating political dispute on the issue in recent weeks.

The Tories have backed the British Medical Association's campaign against the proposal, with ministers accusing them of misleading the public.

Last week the Conservatives also claimed there was a £1.4bn "black hole" in the Department of Health's finances for the scheme, while the BMA published a petition opposing the proposal containing signatures from over one million NHS patients.

However the government insists that the funding is in place for 150 new "GP-led health centres" on top of existing family doctor services and have accused the Conservatives and BMA of running a misleading campaign.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley (pictured) said: "The government needs to explain why these GP surgeries are being named if it's not because polyclinics pose a threat to local doctors.

"It adds to the huge weight of evidence now building up that polyclinics are not the additional services as Gordon Brown has claimed.

"Patients and family doctors are right to be worried about losing a valued local service. It's time Labour faced up to their concerns and called a halt to their unpopular polyclinics scheme."

But health minister Ben Bradshaw said: "This summer's Tory health campaign against more flexible GP opening hours is as ill-fated as last summer's against hospital closures.

"David Cameron was humiliated into abandoning last year's campaign when he had to admit the Tories had got their facts wrong.

"They'll be forced to abandon this one when they realise they've got their facts wrong again.

"The public like being able to see a GP in the evenings and at weekends.

"Once again, the Conservatives are firmly on the wrong side of the argument on health."