A POLITICAN has called for more public consultation on a proposed new polyclinic. Ed Fordham, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn, demanded an extension of the consultation period of NHS Camden s Primary and Urgent Care Strategy

A POLITICAN has called for more public consultation on a proposed new polyclinic.

Ed Fordham, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn, demanded an extension of the consultation period of NHS Camden's 'Primary and Urgent Care Strategy' which could see a transformation of primary health services for residents.

NHS Camden agreed to the extension at a meeting of the council's health scrutiny committee last Thursday [September 24], meaning that residents will have longer to respond to the strategy until the new deadline of October 16.

Mr Fordham said: "The residents of Kilburn deserve to hear the detail of what is proposed for their health services.

"NHS Managers need to realise they have to think this through, work with GPs and local residents, and deliver on their promises.

"This meeting was a start - but there are still many questions to which they don't appear to have answers."

The strategy proposes four new polyclinics in the borough including one in Kilburn, which would serve 60,000 residents in the Kilburn area.

Mr Fordham asked the primary care trust to provide clearer answers about how the polyclinic would work with local GP services, where it would be built and how it would work alongside Brent and Westminster health services which also serve Kilburn residents.

"NHS Camden has to work with residents if these new proposals are to be a success. After weeks of pushing they finally agreed to add an extra public meeting in Kilburn on Wednesday 7 October, and now finally the whole deadline has been extended.

"I encourage everyone to make their views known by coming to the meeting or filling in the survey on our local website."

A spokeswoman from NHS Camden said: "NHS Camden has extended the Primary and Urgent Care Strategy public consultation by one week to provide the widest opportunity for all Camden residents to have their say on the future of health services in Camden.

"The closing date for responses is Friday October 16."

A public meeting to discuss the proposals affecting Kilburn will take place at the Abbey Community Centre in Belsize Road at 7pm on Wednesday October 7.

To download the strategy document and have your say, please visit www.camden.nhs.uk/primaryandurgentcarestrategy