Unclear GP contracts criticised for ‘mucking patients about’

AN NHS system which has put four Coventry GPs on time-limited contracts has been criticised for ‘mucking patients about.’

The future of four Coventry GPs is unclear as their fixed-term five-year Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contracts expire in March 2020.

Stoke Aldermoor Surgery, Foleshill Surgery, Broad Lane Surgery and the City of Coventry Healthcare Centre could close if suitable providers are not found.

And while Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group has said it is to re-procure contracts to ensure services are delivered there, uncertainty over their futures and possible displacement of patients has been criticised.

Speaking at a health scrutiny board meeting at Coventry City Council on Wednesday, October 30, Cllr Hazel Sweet said she had “disdain” at the process, branding it “disgraceful”.

She said: “Patients get used to that GP and prefer to go to that GP.

“The fact that this could close in March without any further contingency plans is a real worry, not only for what is going to happen to the patients and where they are going to be shifted to, but also to the families as well.

“A lot of patient care is based on faith and trust of that GP so to mix and match and muck them about, without any specific reasons other than it is against the rules. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Jenni Northcote, chief strategy and primary care officer for the CCG, said the system has been put in place by NHS England and is their “only option”.

She added: “Nationally, the procurement rules are something we have to live within and work within.

“Our decision is we want to continue to offer and retain service provision at those practices.

“I recognise the point that’s made about service continuity but there is also an argument that having a contract term also allows for new providers to come into the market and quality of services to be tested on some form of regularity.”

Contracts will be offered for a further two years after the CCG gained permission from NHS England, she added.

Contract values are based on GP list sizes, but providers of each contract receive an additional five per cent funding if they meet key indicators.

Based on this being achieved, contracts would be worth £301,274 for Stoke Aldermoor Clinic, £340,652 for Foleshill Surgery, £340,865 for Broad Lane Surgery, and £458,686 for the City of Coventry NHS Healthcare Centre.

Cllr Ed Ruane, who called the contracts into scrutiny, queried whether the system provided value for money for taxpayers, and if it in fact discouraged providers from bidding.

But Ms Northcote said there has been “significantly more interest” in the contracts this year than previously, in part due to a decision not to ‘lot’ the contracts into groups, but procure them individually.

Services at the four sites will run as normal when procurement commences, and the current contract holders will also have the opportunity to bid.

The fact that this could close in March without any further contingency plans is a real worry