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There was proof that the BMA's campaign against polyclinics could be
damaging the government last week, as the DoH began a public relations
counter-attack.

After health secretary Alan Johnson described the BMA's campaign as
'inaccurate' and 'scaremongering', his colleague, health minister Ben
Bradshaw said the campaign material was 'bizarre' and
'inexplicable'.

No surgeries to close

Public attacks on the BMA just before this year's LMCs' conference have
soured relations.

But GPs also face a backlash as senior politicians start to publicly
criticise the profession, not just its union.

Mr Bradshaw told GP: 'I think GPs may be miffed over extended hours, and
the implication of real choice.'

His comments echoed the thoughts of Mr Johnson in The Observer last
week, where he wrote: 'Controversy may be caused by some GPs who fear
greater choice for patients, worried that they themselves will lose
out.'

As the bad-mouthing of GPs began, Mr Bradshaw was visiting a GP-led
health centre in Kirkby, Nottinghamshire.

He was highly critical of the BMA's campaign, insisting that no
surgeries would close.

He took a campaign leaflet from his suit pocket and urged the media
scrum around him to send him any other examples of such leaflets, as if
it were offensive material.

The DoH's spin machine looked well oiled, with Mr Bradshaw posing for
photos with a young GP and touring the primary care unit of the
hospital, a shiny new example of a GP-led health centre, which opened in
March.

During the neatly choreographed visit, Mr Johnson happened to come
across four elderly patients browsing pictures of pre-NHS Britain.

He then turned to the assembled crowd of journalists and PCT
representatives and asked: 'We sometimes take the NHS for granted, don't
we?'

The health centre was carefully chosen, set within a community hospital
in a very deprived area. The group that runs it, Central Notts Clinical
Services (CNCS), is made up of local GPs and a social enterprise. There
are only three GPs there full time, and they work under an APMS
contract.

All the right questions

CNCS's medical director, GP Dr Richard Hook, said Mr Bradshaw was 'very
careful,' and 'asked all the right questions' as he toured the
facilities.

Dr Hook said the health centre was not a polyclinic, and that GPs were
right to be concerned about them. 'It's something to be very afraid of,'
he warned.

Dr Hook said the health centre was the result of becoming 'more active
to defend general practice and prevent a private company getting a
foothold in the area'. 'There is a lot of disquiet with the changes
since 2005. This was never a polyclinic - GPs brought their expertise
together to provide at Kirkby.'

Mr Bradshaw told GP there were no plans to roll out more GP-led health
centres, and Mr Johnson promised no GP surgeries would close because of
polyclinics. The government says it is committed to family doctors.

So is this evidence the BMA's campaign has been effective?

Mr Bradshaw told the media: 'We are not imposing anything anywhere,' but
a minute later, said: 'We want every PCT to set up a GP-led health
centre.'

It would appear that the public is backing the anti-polyclinic message,
with the BMA's petition amassing an amazing 1.2 million signatures.

tom.ireland@haymarket.com.