Locals protest at arrival of online GP

LOCAL HEALTH CAMPAIGNERS are planning a demonstration against the unwelcome arrival of “GP at Hand” – an “online GP” service which has rented rooms in a surgery where the NHS has just shut down a conventional GP service.

The health centre at Newby Place was first built after a campaign by a local GP who had been working out of a temporary building in Poplar High Street, which was being demolished to allow for housing development. It was later re-built for reasons which were never really clear.

While rebuilding took place, patients were moved en block to the All Saints practice in Robin Hood Gardens. The building that practice operated from had to be abandoned to make way for development on that estate.

The All Saints practice then moved to Newby Place, where it joined the Gough Walk practice, and shortly afterwards it was taken over by the Hurley Group. Problems remained with the practice, and it was put into special measures.

It was recently announced that the All Saints practice is to shut at the end of this months, with patients able to choose a new GP or to transfer seamlessly to the Gough Walk practice. Reasons given for the closure include a vague notion that the NHS doesn’t want two practices under one roof.

•Read our news story:
Online GPs: checks find 40% failing

Campaigners were surprised to discover that GP at Hand has recently started renting office space in the Newby Place building. There had been no consultation with patients using the building, nor with other local GP surgeries.

The local Keep Our NHS Public campaign has produced a leaflet setting out the dangers of “GP at Hand” – and plan to hand it out in Chrisp Street Market on Saturday.

They will be holding a demonstration next Thursday lunchtime, 29th March, from 1.30-2.15pm, meeting outside the Ideas Store in Chrisp Street Market and are urging members of the public who are concerned about the future of the NHS to join them.

•To see and download the TH KONP leaflet which explains the problems with GP at Hand, go to:
TH KONP leaflet

•Read more about it:
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