A DOCTORS' leader has predicted that plans to open at least ten super-surgeries across the region will be "a complete disaster."

Dr John Canning, secretary of Cleveland Local Medical Committee and a member of the British Medical Association's national GP committee, was echoing criticisms made last week by Darlington GP Dr Ahmet Fuat.

Dr Fuat described Government plans to open the health centres in every part of the country as a waste of money and "absolutely crazy".

Now Dr Canning, who practises in Middlesbrough, has thrown his weight behind the claims.

He predicted Health Minister Lord Darzi's plan to open health centres in every primary care trust (PCT) area in the North-East and North Yorkshire would "kill off" practices in some areas.

Apart from diverting resources from other aspects of the NHS, Dr Canning said the move would lead to doctors at the health centres "twiddling their thumbs" because of a lack of patients.

The GP said plans to make every PCT open a centre along with three new-style surgeries, probably staffed by salaried doctors, would undermine the traditional doctors' surgery.

A spokeswoman for the North-East Strategic Health Authority insisted the NHS in the region is "fully committed" to the plans.

"Thirty per cent of patients polled at a regional event said that access to appointments with GPs needs a lot of improvement while many said that evening and weekend opening hours should be a priority," she said.

"In response to this, primary care trusts will be given additional resources dedicated to setting up new health centres, which are planned to open in 2009.

"This investment will mean more patients can get access to family doctors at times that suit them, making the service more responsive to what local people want."

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire and York PCT said the trust was planning to open one health centre in the area in line with Government policy but no decision had been taken about the site. Comment - Page 14