New service could be overrun

Dr Emma Rowley-Conwy's Exchange surgery in Streatham moved into a new £10million building only six months ago.

Now there are fears it will be turned into a polyclinic and become overrun with patients from nine other surgeries in the surrounding area.

She said: "There are currently two practices in the new building and all the rooms are full. But there are nine practices nearby that do not use the building. If Lord Darzi's plans were applied strictly they would all shut down and move here, which is crazy.

"More than 150 of our patients signed a petition against polyclinics because even though we are not going to shut they know the changes mean they might not be able to see me so easily in future.

They may be faced with queues and longer waits. The campaign in this area is very strong. There are posters up in a newsagent's in Herne Hill and another surgery has collected 1,500 signatures.

"Lord Darzi's model does not support continuity - if you have depression you don't want to have to tell your story all over again.

"Until that relationship is lost people won't realise what they are missing."