London GPs protest privatisation of out-of-hours contract
Released 06/09/2010
Hundreds sign petition to DH
Over 200 GPs in North London have petitioned Health Secretary Andrew Lansley in protest of a decision to transfer out-of-hours care in their area to a private firm, reports Pulse.
The doctors claim the decision to replace existing provider CAMIDOC, a non-profit company run by GPs, with private firm Harmoni could put patients' health at risk, accusing managers of failing to consult patients or GPs on the matter.
In an open letter to local MPs and PCT managers, the doctors accused managers of a "total lack of transparency" over the plans, which NHS Camden said had been drawn up in response to CAMIDOC's recent financial problems.
But GPs said the problems with the service, which covers Camden, Islington, City and Hackney and Haringey, were "primarily caused by a lack of funding from the PCTs", and said repeated requests from CAMIDOC for extra funding had been ignored.
The doctors felt the switch would leave the local service in need of basic medical equipment, due to Harmoni's policy of not providing emergency resuscitation equipment, portable oxygen or defibrillators.
The letter requested the current proposals to transfer care immediately "be put on hold until proper consultation with interested parties occurs".
A statement from NHS Camden read: "The PCTs concluded that CAMIDOC was technically insolvent [and] were also concerned that CAMIDOC's financial difficulties could compromise future service delivery in both the short and longer term.
"Legal advice has confirmed that there is no obligation to consult under section 242 off the NHS Act as there is no change in service provision between CAMIDOC and Harmoni."
Harmoni chief executive Andrew Gardner commented: "Harmoni has not up until now provided oxygen or defibrillators in the London region since we work very closely with London Ambulance Service (LAS). However, we will be taking over the CAMIDOC cars which all carry defibrillators and oxygen."
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