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Haringey's polyclinic plan has come in for heavy criticism from local doctors and concerned patients.

Dr Helen Pelendreides of Haringey's Evergreen House Surgery said: "my patients are in uproar", over fears that the surgery may close as part of plans to roll out a handful of new neighbourhood health centres.

"We are open, nothing is set in stone. "

Helen Brown, Deputy Chief Executive of Haringey Primary Care Trust

The practice which opened 33 years ago听 mainly serves Haringey's Greek Cypriot speaking community and has recently become the preferred surgery for Haringey's Bulgarian speaking community.

Evergreen House prides itself on it's ability to meet it's patients cultural and language needs.听 Patients fear this will be lost if the practice is forced to close.

Demonstrations

In a bid to have their voices heard the Evergreen House Surgery Patients Participation Group are planning a series of demonstrations.

However Helen Brown, acting Deputy Chief Executive of Haringey Primary Care Trust says: "We have not decided yet which surgeries will close.听

"The new neighbourhood centres will mean that people will still be able to see the same GP".听

Evergreen House Surgery, Haringey

Ms Brown confirmed that the Primary Care Trust are carrying out a further household survey this summer to find out how best to roll out the new centres.听 She said: "We are open, nothing is set in stone."

Million people sign petition

Dr Pelendreides concerns are echoed by more than a million people who have signed a petition urging ministers to rethink plans for a network of polyclinics and super surgeries across England.

A paper produced by the British Medical Association accuses the government of trying to commercialise the GP system.

This adds to tensions between the government and doctors, where ministers have听 accused them of running a "misleading" campaign.

150 Polyclinics

Health leaders have been told to set up a network of 150 polyclinics across the country, that will deliver services such as GPs, nurses, social workers and some hospital services.

The BMA and Tories have both expressed their concerns that the policy poses a threat to the traditional GP practices as we know them.

Dr Buckman told delegates at the conference in London: "My message to Gordon Brown is this: "Whatever you think of GPs, take note of what your electorate thinks.
"We're not saying we're perfect. We want to improve.

"But work with us to do that, not against us, and ignore at your peril the wishes of the most important people in the NHS - the patients."

Health minister Ben Bradshaw said: "I am not surprised the BMA have collected so many signatures given the misleading and mendacious nature of their campaign.

"If I were to run a campaign making false claims that something terrible was about to happen, a lot of people would sign my petition too."

Enhance services

The government has said that the network of clinics will add to services already available from GP's and will not lead to the closure of any family doctor surgeries.

Supporter of the scheme believe that Polyclinics are needed to improve access to services and help move care out of hospitals.