I am part of the Keep Camden GPs in the NHS campaign formed in opposition to Camden PCT s decision to award contracts for the running of three south Camden GPs surgeries to United Health, one of the largest medical companies in the USA, where health care

I am part of the Keep Camden GPs in the NHS campaign formed in opposition to Camden PCT's decision to award contracts for the running of three south Camden GPs surgeries to United Health, one of the largest medical companies in the USA, where health care is a multibillion-dollar business.

United Health's bid for the contract undercut the local GPs' bid by £25 per patient. Now, Camden PCT plans to tender the out-of-hours GP services in Camden, Islington, Haringey and Hackney - so United Health or another private company might take over the contract.

This service has been run successfully for the past 10 years by Camidoc, a non-profit making GP co-operative. We believe that private profit has no place in our National Health Service. We have called on Camden PCT to stop putting money before patients' needs and to keep all Camden GPs within the NHS.

We have called on them to continue their out-of-hours contract with Camidoc, and not to go through another costly tendering process at the public's expense.

At the last PCT Board meeting, John Carrier said that he would agree to hold a public meeting before any tendering process began.We have recently received information from Camden PCT that they will be deciding the next steps for the tendering process at their board meeting in the conference hall on the ground floor of St Pancras Hospital, St Pancras Way, NW1 on Monday, May 19, 4.30pm.

We would like to encourage all supporters of Keep Camden GPs in the NHS/Keep Our NHS Public to attend this meeting. We would also like to invite supporters to come to our next campaign meeting which will be on Tuesday, May 20 at 6.45pm at Maiden Lane Community Centre, St Paul's Crescent, Agar Grove, NW1.

Alex Mackie

Spencer Rise, NW5