CONTROVERSIAL plans to introduce polyclinics in Waltham Forest have moved forward as the first official contract was signed.

Managers from NHS Waltham Forest signed the document with Forest Community Health, the primary care trust’s chosen partner, meaning the new facilities are one step closer to opening.

A spokesman for NHS Waltham Forest said: “This news means that residents can now look forward to a host of benefits including a new GP facility opening from 8am to 8pm, for registered and unregistered patients seven days a week, 365 days of the year and more accessible services usually only available in hospital settings.”

The new clinics are intended to offer GPs and other health and social care professionals a way to work more closely with one another and provide better care in the local community.

The spokesman added: “The first of these schemes are being developed in areas of high deprivation. They are based on what is called the ‘networked’ polyclinic model, which means existing GP practices will link in to a local centre, providing the key services.”

But the proposals were met with concern from healthcare campaigners last year as they felt GP surgeries could be at risk of closure and there were also fears the clinics could face take-over bids from multi-national corporations.

The Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) campaign fought to prevent the clinics from opening as they believe the Government should be funding improvements to existing GP surgeries.

NHS Waltham Forest denied claims that the clinics will lead to the closure of existing GP practices.

Cllr Afzal Akram, chairman of NHS Waltham Forest, said: “Local people have told us that they want to be able to see a GP outside of normal working hours and a new GP facility opening from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week will be a central part of this development ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to see a GP at a time which is convenient to them.”

A total of four clinics were proposed for the borough this year and the first is set to open this spring at the medical centre in Oliver Road, Leyton.