CONTROVERSIAL plans to create a new polyclinic or Darzi Centre in Scarborough came under fire at a public meeting.
More than 100 people including GPs, members of the public and representatives from North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) attended last night's meeting at Scarborough Christian Centre in Castle Road.
The talks were part of ongoing publi
c consultation which began in June. Scarborough GPs and residents have reacted angrily to plans for an all-in-one super surgery, originally earmarked for Castle ward.
However the PCT has said that public comments and feedback will form the basis for changes to the additional services, which will receive £800,000 a year for five years in government funding.
Jane Marshall, the PCT's director of commissioning and service development, said at the meeting: "Nobody from the PCT is here to take anything away from this local community, be it services or investment.
"It's not about reducing services or closing hospitals. It's not necessarily about a new building – we certainly don't want a white elephant building in Scarborough that nobody uses.
"It's about making services convenient for those who need them. We also want to find where there are gaps in services and fill them."
Dr John Crompton, chairman of the North Yorkshire branch of YORLMC – a group which represents 100 GP practices across the region said: "We believe these proposals pose a threat and patients registering with this new practice could destabilise GP surgeries across Scarborough.
"GPs would be all for investment in this local area but it's very important that the money is spent on the right things."
Dr Phil Garnett, who is from Filey Surgery and chairman of a GPs' consortium, said: "My main concern is that of duplication of GP services which are already excellent.
"However if the PCT are offering £800,000 a year for Scarborough it would be stupid not to try and work with them."
Others spoke in favour of the proposals, including a spokesperson for Scarborough Homeless Support.
She said: "Everybody should be able to access healthcare services."
Scarborough businessman Tom Pindar spoke in support of the PCT's work, while questioning the proposed location of the centre.
Questionnaires and public comments can still be submitted until this Friday. Copies are available in the Evening News reception area in Aberdeen Walk.
A decision on the proposals will be made at the PCT's public board meeting at Sovereign House, Kettlestring Lane, York, on September 16 at 2pm.
The full article contains 421 words and appears in Scarborough Evening News newspaper.
