Press release: NHS Confederation comments on King's Fund report on polyclinics

05 Jun 2008

Nigel Edwards, policy director of the NHS Confederation which represents over 95 per cent of NHS organisations, said: 

"This report provides a useful and balanced review of the risks and opportunities in the polyclinic model. While polyclinics could delver significant benefits for patients it is crucial that a "one size fits all" model is not imposed on a national level.

"The NHS Confederation highlighted in a recent report Ideas from Darzi: polyclinics that it would be a mistake to assume polyclinics can always save money by moving care out of hospital, but rather we should focus on how they can allow the NHS to work in a more organised and effective way.

"Polyclinics are not just big new buildings. Centralisation of services would not work in every area, especially rural areas.  Models can be virtual, or use existing estates to bring clinicians together. It is essential that clinicians change ways of working and improve care pathways, not just move buildings.

"Careful planning will be key to success, and we hope to see a model develop that allows the required local discretion to meet local need, and builds on existing services in consultation with local people.  This is not about closing surgeries, but where appropriate, using a polyclinic approach to improve the access to and quality of care for all."

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

Contact details

Contact Niall Smith 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309, Ruth Kennedy 020 7074 3312 or 07884 47 3086, or Ruby Casey-Knight 020 7074 3306 or 07881 957305.  For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.

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