'Our GPs must continue to see us as patients, not customers' - John Leech MP

10.10.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 5th Jun 2008

Lib Dem MP for Manchester Withington, John Leech, has called on the Labour government to scrap plans to introduce polyclinics.

John has met with a number of local GPs who work in his constituency to discuss their concerns and to show his support for the vital work they do in the community.

John Leech MP said: 'I am backing the British Medical Association's petition opposing polyclinics as I do not want to see public funding moved from our local GP practices to commercial companies. These companies will be accountable to shareholders, rather than the people who matter - the patients.

'I urge local people to show support for their GPs by signing the petition which I will then submit to Parliament.'

Notes to editors:

1. The full wording of the petition reads:

In the 60th year of the NHS, we, the undersigned, petition the Prime Minister to continue to support our existing NHS GP surgeries and improve services to patients by further investment in existing GPs surgeries.

We also urge the government to halt its plans to promote the use of commercial companies in general practice because this risks destabilising our local surgeries and threatens the comprehensive high quality care receive from our GPs. We don't want public funding to move from GP practices to commercial companies who are accountable primarily to shareholders rather than patients. Also we want to be treated by GPs who see us as patients not customers.