Andrew Lansley to look at Camidoc

Published: 16 September, 2010
by TOM FOOT

THE Secretary of State for Health is set to intervene in the decision to drop Camden’s out-of-hours doctors provider.

Conservative minister Andrew Lansley said he would “look at” the process by which Camidoc was replaced with private firm, Harmoni.

Responding to a question from Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy in the House of Commons, Mr Lansley said: “The Right Hon Gentleman will be perfectly well aware of my view: we want to involve general practitioners much more in commissioning out-of-hours services.

“I will undertake to look at what is proposed by the primary care trusts in north London and see whether it is consistent with the development that we are looking for in the White Paper.”

The New Journal revealed how the stricken not-for-profit doctors group was axed on July 27 because it had spent doctors’ pension money when its costs rocketed due to additional calls on the service.

More than 200 doctors delivered a petition to Mr Lansley arguing the “illegal” use of their pension fund was “made in good faith” and Camidoc should be reinstated.

NHS Camden, which manages the contract on behalf of Islington, said it axed Camidoc after a business review found the non-profit-making company was using pensions inappropriately and was “technically insolvent”.