Polyclinic into Heart of Hounslow

Under the controversial polyclinic project, GP services, social care and community healthcare will all be brought together under one roof.

The town currently has a shortfall in GP cover and a network of seven existing practices is set to offer a seven-day a week service for patients.

Nick Relph, chief executive of Hounslow Primary Care Trust, said: "The Heart of Hounslow already delivers high quality services within the community and these are set to expand when it becomes a fully-fledge polyclinic next year.

"Local people will have the choice of registering with a GP in Heart of Hounslow, which is located at a transport hub near the shopping centre in Hounslow, or with a neighbourhood GP near their home."

But many local GPs do not agree with the polyclinic model and claim most Londoners have no idea what they are. A survey carried out in May by a group of Local Medical Committees in west London, including Hounslow's, suggested only five per cent of residents back the proposals.

Speaking at the time, Cranford doctor Alick Munro, chairman of Hounslow LMC, said: "I believe the funding would be much better spend on developing existing surgeries, allowing them to expand their good range of current services and to network naturally, without coercion."

Dr Tony Stanton, joint chief executive of Londonwide LMCs, said he was left 'encouraged' by the pilot projects. However he added: "We will continue to urge PCTs to properly evaluate the pilots and make that evaluation public to ensure a balance is struck between continuity of care and convenience, that patient care is not compromised and local family surgeries are not destabilised."

A massive 20,000 people are registered with GPs at the £18million Heart of Hounslow, which opened last February.