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Local GPs
• BE in no doubt that our highly valued and admirable Camidoc out-of-hours doctor service is under threat in the forthcoming review.
Camden’s primary trust under Rob Larkman has proved itself to be mediocre, indifferent to the community it’s meant to serve and quite capable of making decisions on the basis of cost – as proved by its unilateral appointment of United Health to run three Camden GP practices.
Cost absolutely should not be the sole criterion.
But in this day and age, deplorably, we see just such shortsighted cost-only orientation in the decision by this government to close our local post offices.
It’s got to stop.
With Camidoc, as Michael Goldin wrote (Letters, March 20) we have enjoyed and benefit from experienced GPs working co-operatively in a not-for-profit organisation.
To my certain knowledge these doctors regularly attend training courses, its GPs are of a universally high standard and they’re local doctors, which the American United Health – with shareholder profits uppermost in mind – cannot possibly rival.
John Gulliver observed that, unfortunately, the attitude of Camden’s autocratic PCT is like Tony Blair: “I know best.” It’s time for patients to speak up to save Camden’s excellent and worthwhile Camidoc.
CLLR PAUL BRAITHWAITE
Lib Dem, Cantelowes ward
Reconsider
• HOW is it possible that in the face of such widespread public opposition the primary care trust are persisting in the scheme of selling three Camden surgeries to an American corporation?
In view of the issues raised about faulty consultation (I and others have spoken to a large number of patients, most of whom had not even heard of the proposal, and none of whom appear to support it), reports that the tendering criteria were changed, and questions raised about the track-record of the prospective purchaser: isn’t it time at least to stop and reconsider? We know the PCT are unaccountable to anyone (except the government in the long run), and unelected. But consider your ethical accountability to public opinion.
THOM OSBORN
Kentish Town
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