The Welsh Government is ‘very concerned’ about locums not being paid by a GP-led company, following complaints from politicians.
Last month, Pulse reported on several locum GPs who said they were owed thousands of pounds from eHarley Street, an England-based company which is owned by two GP partners and which helps to run nine practices across Wales.
Welsh politicians raised concerns about the company and the practices in the Welsh parliament on Tuesday, with Member of the Senedd (MS) Alun Davies saying the ‘failure of eHarley Street is a disgrace’, and that doctors ‘remain unpaid’.
MS Hefin Davies said that ‘patients have noted a deterioration in service’ since the GP partners took over the contract for the practices and eHarley Street began running the management remotely.
He told the First Minister that it is ‘time that the Welsh Government got involved’, while MS Delyth Jewell asked the country’s top politician whether she ‘supports calls for an inquiry into how these contracts were awarded’.
In response, First Minister Eluned Morgan said the issue is ‘something we should be deeply concerned about’ and that the health secretary is in conversation with the health board ‘just to make sure there’s an understanding that this kind of behaviour is not good enough’.
‘I can assure you Welsh Government is very concerned about the situation, and we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and a lack of respect for the contract that has been signed,’ she told parliament.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said the GP partnership is ‘under enhanced monitoring arrangements’, and the situation is being reviewed on a weekly basis.
The First Minister also indicated that while GP practices are ‘run independently’, similar to private companies, she is ‘not happy’ with a ‘model that is effectively run at a distance, where contracts are not respected’.
On the issue of unpaid GPs, Ms Morgan said: ‘It’s absolutely unacceptable not to pay people for a job that they’ve carried out. That goes beyond the pale and breaks every rule in the book. So, there’s got to be a consequence to that, and I’m sure that that is something that will be raised with the chief executive [of the health board] soon.’
When concerns were raised towards the end of last year, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board emphasised that the GMS contracts for the practices are held with Drs Jalil Ahmed and Jonathan Allinson as GP partners, rather than with eHarley Street Primary Care Solutions.
However, GPs and staff told Pulse that day-to-day management of the surgeries sits with eHarley Street, based in England, and the Welsh practices are listed under ‘our practices’ on the company’s website.
In December, the GP partners admitted to delays in payments, but claimed they are ‘isolated instances’ concerning a ‘small number of GPs’, and that it reflects ‘broader systemic pressures’ on general practice in Wales.
In response to criticism of their company eHarley Street in the Senedd, solicitors speaking on behalf of the partners said they are ‘in regular contact’ with the health board and ‘actively addressing the concerns’ raised by politicians.
‘The focus remains on finding solutions that are amicable and satisfactory for all stakeholders, and our clients are pleased to report that progress has been made in paying historical locum invoices,’ the solicitors said.
But they acknowledged that ‘some historical invoices remain outstanding’ despite this progress.
The partners denied that there are any problems at their Welsh practices around appointment availability or patient safety.
They have also invited several Members of the Senedd, including the First Minister, to meet to discuss any concerns, according to their solicitors.
Their response added: ‘It is the Partnership’s view that some of the comments made in the Senedd reflect a position that does not fully consider all the facts and complexities of the situation.
‘By providing accurate and detailed information in these meetings, the Partnership hopes to enable the First Minister and Members of the Senedd to better understand the realities faced and the proactive steps being taken.’
A spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: ‘We are aware of the significant concerns that have been raised and the GP partnership is working with the Health Board under enhanced monitoring arrangements to address the issues identified.
‘We are committed to ensuring that access to Primary Care services in these areas are in line with contractual arrangements and meet the requirements of our local communities.
‘This is a top priority for us as a Health Board and we are reviewing the situation on a weekly basis.’
