Keep people out of hospital. It sounds like a simple enough mantra for any health service, but that is the main purpose of the polyclinics and health centres being proposed by the Government.

Polyclinics, placing family doctors alongside services such as diagnostic testing, minor surgery, physiotherapy, pharmacy or dentistry, will offer patients more convenience and choice - and save them the trip to the nearest district general hospital.

The Government also envisages that each of the 152 primary care trusts in England will introduce at least one new “GP-led health centre”, each costing £1 million, with doctors available from 8am to 8pm every day.

In theory, medical staff could share their expertise more readily in these settings and there could be improvements in the quality of care for people with long-term conditions, such as diabetes.

But an analysis of plans for the clinics concluded last week that while they may be able to offer a wider range of services, there is no evidence that larger GP practices deliver better care than smaller ones.

The study by the King’s Fund, the influential health think-tank, came as hospital consultants, GPs and patients called on the Government to “dump the polyclinic plan”.

There are still concerns that super-surgeries will take on the worst elements of current GP practices, and of hospital accident and emergency departments - with patients facing long waits in crowded waiting rooms, and the prospect of seeing a different doctor every time.

While there is nothing stopping local GPs from coming together to run a new health centre, in reality it is likely to be commercial healthcare companies who have the time, money and staff to dedicate to winning complex bids for the clinics across the country.

In underdoctored areas, polyclinics and health centres will be set up under arrangements known as “alternative provider medical services”, which would seem to give preference to private sector firms when the contracts are tendered.

Critics fear that this will create branded healthcare services run by companies such as Virgin Health and United Health.

It is also likely that, despite the Government’s assurances, that a few hundred small practices - maybe more - will have to close as a result of having to merge into or compete with the new centres.

Patients are likely to be left travelling farther to see their GP - perhaps only a mile or two, but distance could be crucial for old-age pensioners or parents who would like a surgery within pram-pushing distance.

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