Protest by patients over GP surgeries' privatisation

A protest against the privatisation of GP surgeries in London will be launched this afternoon.

Doctors and patients are campaigning against giant corporations taking over family doctor services after at least four practices were handed over to the private sector this week.

US firm United Health won control of three surgeries in Camden, and a practice in Tower Hamlets - the scene for today's protest - was handed to private firm Atos Healthcare. In each case local GPs made a bid but NHS managers chose the private firms instead.

Patients will not be asked to pay for care but the practices will now be controlled by firms, not GPs.

Today's protest will begin at 2pm outside the St Paul's Way surgery where Atos is expected to take control tomorrow. Local campaigner Dr Jackie Turner said: "Services will be provided for profit by a company whose staff may come and go, instead of committed family GPs and nurses who know the East End and local patients."

Companies such as United Health argue that they offer longer hours and run more services such as home visits.

But there are fears health trusts are choosing private firms simply because they are cheaper. In Camden, United Health won a "value for money" test but did not perform better on service checks.