Not what the doctor ordered

5:55pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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As a GP in Barnet, I am always interested in what Charles Hollwey, the Barnet Primary Care Trust (PCT) chief executive, has to say (GPs are here to stay', Times Series, June 26).

I imagine you might have thought I would have been pleased by his statement that no GP practices are to be forced to close. I hope he is still in post when the polyclinic at Finchley Memorial Hospital opens.

However, my understanding is, the moment the polyclinic opens, my premises may suddenly become unsuitable to continue holding a contract to provide GP services with Barnet PCT.

I suspect the reason that will be given then is owing to non-compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, although the premises seem perfectly acceptable to Barnet PCT at this moment in time.

I do not think for one minute we will be asked to close, merely to move to Finchley Memorial Hospital or perhaps to another Barnet PCT site. Of course if we were not to do so we would be unable to continue to provide services owing to the unsuitability of the premises.

Please keep this letter and the article from June 26 for the next four years and we will see what transpires.

Jonathan Lubin, Derwent Medical Centre, Derwent Crescent, Whetstone