Exclusive: Darzi centre paid 7 times more per patient than GP practices
By Susie Sell, 18 August 2011
A GP has branded Darzi centres a 'grotesque waste of money' after his own investigation found one neighbouring centre received more than seven times the funding per patient than the average GP practice.
Dr Glasspool: ‘These centres are a grotesque waste of public money at a time when the country is in financial difficulty'
Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that Adelaide Surgery in Southampton has registered just 1,220 patients, despite receiving £907,000 in 2011/2. It means the centre receives around £743 per patient per year.
Local GP Dr John Glasspool said this is more than seven times the average funding for a GP practice.
It follows a GP investigation last month that showed 35% of Darzi centres have registered fewer than 1,000 patients.
Dr Glasspool said while Darzi centres should receive a ‘little more funding’ because of their longer opening hours, they should not receive more than seven times the average funding for a GP practice.
He said: ‘I don’t blame our PCT because these centres were forced on PCTs even though most didn’t need one. It really is a reflection of the hubris of Labour which... made the mistake that nurses plus a computer in a new centre would be cheaper than GPs.
‘These centres are a grotesque waste of public money at a time when the country is in financial difficulty. Our PCT claims it hasn’t any money to invest in primary care... but it has nearly £1m to run an unnecessary Darzi centre.’
Dr Glasspool said the government must rethink the Darzi centre policy and close all centres that have not registered many patients.
He said: ‘If the government is serious about reforming the country's financial difficulties this is something that it should be looking at as a priority.
‘The whole idea was madness from the start, but since when was sanity a prerequisite to decision making in the NHS?’
Dr Stuart Ward, medical director for the Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth PCT cluster said Darzi centres are 'by definition different from GP practices'.
'It should be noted that the costs for the Adelaide Surgery include the provision of some community services,' he said.
The Adelaide Surgery, which is run by community provider Solent NHS Trust, was contacted but did not provide a comment.
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