Sainsbury’s plans GP surgeries in store
Sainsbury’s has confirmed its interest in adding GP surgeries to branches across the country
The company said chief executive Justin King had met Health Minister Caroline Flint to discuss the proposal and that further meetings were planned with the Department of Health next week.
The grocer wants to be become a key partner in the Government’s bid to bring “healthcare to the doorstep” by installing surgeries in stores with pharmacies.
Sainsbury’s has 161 in-store chemists and plans to open 50 more in the next 12 months although not all will have surgeries if the proposal gets the go-ahead.
The company said “We are in talks at the moment but it seems like the natural link to have GPs in our stores with pharmacies depending on the space available.”
A development team has already begun looking for suitable stores to test the scheme, with the plan to place the surgeries in warehouse space at the back of the supermarkets or upstairs “out of the way”.
Last month, Dr David Colin-Thome, the DoH’s primary care director, said any supermarkets interested would need to show an ability to adapt to the health sector.
He said: “GPs may well be nervous to be employed by a supermarket chain initially. 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 former health secretary Frank Dobson has voiced concern over the plans.
He said: “Big business is in it for the money and the benefit of their shareholders. If the interest of doctors or the interests of patients clash with the interests of the shareholders, we all know who is going to come off worst.”
