Pledge to battle Virgin NHS plan (From thisisoxfordshire)

Pledge to battle Virgin NHS plan

7:38am Friday 14th March 2008 in News By The Page Turner

CAMPAIGNERS fighting privatisation in the NHS say they will oppose any plans by Virgin to set up a 'super surgery' in Oxfordshire.

According to Keep Our NHS Public (KONP), the Virgin Group wants to build and administer NHS health centres using sub-contracted GPs.

Services provided by GPs inside would remain on the NHS. But other services, including dentistry, laser eye surgery and physiotherapy would have to be paid for, according to KONP.

Although Virgin Healthcare has not announced any concrete plans for such a centre in the county, campaigners say local GPs are now being consulted about the idea.

And the company is hosting an event on Monday at St Hugh's College, Oxford, to outline proposals to GPs.

Dr Helen Groom, who works as a GP at the East Oxford health centre in Manzil Way, said the Virgin group was initially planning to provide a new GP surgery in the M4 corridor, while it is thought a second could follow in Oxfordshire, possibly in the Didcot area.

Lara McLeod, a spokesman for Virgin Healthcare, said: "We can't confirm any locations at present because we are in a consultation period with GPs. We will be meeting Oxfordshire GPs on Monday."