Two GP practices in Swindon that were handed to a hospital trust more than three years ago are moving back to independent GP ownership, local NHS leaders have confirmed.
The contracts for Abbey Meads Medical Group and Moredon Medical Centre were handed to Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2019 after failings in management by private firm Integral Medical Holdings Group.
But the Integrated Care Board said both practices, which between them have 30,000 patients, will now be managed by three other existing local GP services.
Westrop Medical Practice, Victoria Cross Surgery and North Swindon Practice have come together as a new collaborative entity to support the two practices, as well as the smaller branch sites of Crossroads Surgery and Penhill Surgery.
The CCG at the time had handed the contract for the practices to the hospital trust after four out of five of the practices in Swindon run by Integral Medical Holdings, were placed in special measures by the CCQ earlier this year.
As a result, the company had withdrawn from its contracts and commissioners had to find new providers.
Issues with IMH began earlier in 2019 when the company’s handling of phone bookings for the five surgeries led to patients going to A&E instead.
The firm went on to lose its contract for the appointment booking system following a ‘high number’ of patient complaints about difficulties with getting in touch with the practices.
Sue Harriman, chief executive of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: ‘I am very pleased that the process of finding new management for these practices has taken place quickly and smoothly.
‘I would like to thank all those who have worked so hard, especially those at Westrop, Victoria Cross and North Swindon Practice, to make this happen.
‘A special thank you should also go to the team at the Great Western Hospital, who supported the practices through a very challenging time, and helped the teams on the ground make a solid start to their improvement journey.’
She added: ‘For colleagues, they will now be closer to their peers in other practices, and have more opportunities to draw upon shared learning and best practice, while also making the most of a much broader pool of clinical knowledge and expertise.’
The news comes as former health secretary Sajid Javid last year floated ideas for GPs to link up with hospitals.
However today Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signalled that he has no appetite for wholesale reorganisation of general practice.
After all that, and whatever changes may be yet to happen, moving forwards, has placement into special measures
improved anything at all? Also what has been the ‘care journey’ for patients: not a smooth one from the sounds of it.
More substandard journeys ahead under Steve Barclaybanker, Rashy Sanuk PM, Amanda Preachard NHSE and Trusts, ICB’s and the Blue team at Westminster?
@ Sam Macphie. Yes it has IMH have withdrawn their provision of primary care services ( well at least their version of it ) which was clearly a very inferior product. That must be cause for some kind of celebration.
Funding and demand pressures increased to pint of failure then other NHS picks up the baton temporarily until a local solution (almost certainly additional funding).
The process continues until the govt cost savings from funding and demand pressure start to dwindle and no longer justify the level of public dissatisfaction incurred.
The govt have made no attempt to disguise their battle plans yet remain successful …..
https://twitter.com/SimonTa95239529/status/1613168053944029185?s=20&t=53LuWjl4g3R8-uDVUu-ecQ
Shouldn’t Wes Streeting read this story?