A health boss has warned that the NHS in Kingston could break-up when GPs are given control of the purse strings, unless a system is in place soon.
Kingston Council and NHS Kingston are ploughing ahead to establish a health and wellbeing board before NHS Kingston is axed in 2012.
The board would support Kingston’s 28 GP practices when they are given power over spending decisions in two years' time.
David Smith, chief executive of NHS Kingston, said: “I know a lot of people would be glad to see the back of NHS Kingston when we are abolished.
“It is critical that there’s that holding of the ring of that local system. If you don’t have that then there’s danger of the system fragmenting.
"We don’t want to be in a situation say in 2012 where there’s no local arrangement and we suddenly have to put something in place."
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