GPs raise doubts over Branson health plan (From Oxford Mail)

GPs raise doubts over Branson health plan

4:44pm Sunday 27th January 2008 in News By Victoria Owen

Entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson is planning to open a super health centre in Oxford where GPs would work alongside a range of private health practitioners.

But the proposal has been criticised by doctors and NHS campaigners, who claim it would use GPs to peddle private services in a gym-like environment.

Virgin Healthcare would offer services like dentistry, pharmacies and complementary therapies in state-of-the-art buildings. But while the plan has coincided with a Government strategy to get private firms running seven-day-a-week health centres, contracted to carry out NHS GP work, managers of Sir Richard's new business claim they are not interested in this concept.

Instead, they say, existing GP practices would be invited to move into Virgin Healthcare super centres, complete with a range of private healthcare services, helping to reduce their overheads while keeping their independence.

The idea has been questioned by Dr Rickman Godlee, a Wantage GP and chairman of Oxfordshire's Local Medical Committee.

He said: "Virgin would pool services to cut down overheads, so it's only something you could achieve in urban areas, like Oxford.

"But we don't need this because we already have excellent general practice in the city. I can't see many practices being happy to sign up.

"It looks like GPs would be used to peddle Virgin's private health services. You could entice doctors in because of the nice environment and reduced overheads, but next to the GPs would be the money-spinning part of Virgin Healthcare."

Unison is also opposed to Virgin's proposals. Mark Ladbrooke, chairman of the union's Oxfordshire health committee, said: "It's deeply alarming that a private company such as Virgin Group will be marketing its additional services to potentially vulnerable patients when they're in need of medical care, as if they were visiting a gym.

"By providing private services alongside NHS services, Virgin completely undermines the whole ethos of the NHS - a health service free at the point of need."

But Virgin Healthcare chief executive Mark Adams said his plans would help GPs retain their independent status - unlike the Government's plans.

He said: "As with all Virgin businesses, Virgin Healthcare is getting involved in an area where we feel we can make a real difference.

"Virgin's expertise in customer service, technological know-how, communication skills and resources can combine with the expertise of primary healthcare clinicians to make that difference in the healthcare sector."

Dr Richard Stephens, chairman of Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust's clinical executive committee, said: "The PCT is keeping a close watch on developments."