Tories claim polyclinic funding 'black hole'

The Conservatives have claimed there is a funding shortfall in the government's plans for new 'polyclinics'.

The Tories published figures on Wednesday which they said showed a £1.4bn "black hole" in the Department of Health's finances.

Health secretary Alan Johnson wants to create a string of additional super surgeries offering walk-in diagnostic services and access to family doctors, on top of existing GPs.

But he faces opposition from critics, including the BMA doctors' group, who fear the plans threaten the future of traditional GPs.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Alan Johnson hasn't done his sums properly.

"His claim that GP surgeries won't shut when polyclinics come in is falling apart because he simply hasn't provided enough money for them to stay open.

"It's time Labour listened to the concerns of people up and down the country who are worried about losing their family doctor and called a halt to their unpopular polyclinics programme."

But health minister Ben Bradshaw rejected the claims.

"The Conservatives have either misunderstood or are deliberately misrepresenting what is happening," he said.

"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.

"They made a similar mistake last summer when they scaremongered about the future of hospitals - a campaign David Cameron was eventually humiliated into disowning.

"The Labour government will remain on the public's side - delivering what they want in better and easier to access primary care services and in the end the public will make a judgment."