DOCTOR’S surgeries could be set up in supermarkets under plans in the health White Paper, it emerged last night.
The Government believes that GPs would be more accessible if shoppers could pop in to them. It is also keen to tap into supermarkets’ financial capital and market knowledge.
The White Paper, out next week, refers to “large, one-stop primary care centres”. Dr David Colin-Thome, of the Department of Health, said that GPs might be “nervous” about being employed by supermarkets.
He told Channel 4 News: “The supermarket chain would have to demonstrate that they hold the values of the NHS dear and that they’d be good employers, then I think GPs would be happy. But I think there will be some initial nervousness.”