Out-of-hours GP company might continue contract

The company running an out-ofhours service for east Kent GPs says it might continue with the three-year contract – despite giving notice to quit.

It emerged last week that contractor Primecare had told health chiefs it was planning to terminate its contract next July.

The decision came after a rocky start for the service and for the non-emergency NHS 111 service in Kent that was also part of the contract.

The company received a warning notice for its performance by the four east Kent Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) within a month of it starting.

It was then rated as “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission and ordered to take steps to improve to ensure vulnerable patients were not at risk.

Primecare has now said it retains the option of withdrawing its notice to quit.

A statement said the company had been working together with the CCGs to ensure “the continued safe delivery of NHS 111 and out-of-hours GP and nurse-led services in east Kent.”

It said a new joint working arrangement was in place to ensure there was a “quality service for the duration of the contract between both parties.”

It is understood the company believes that it could continue with the contract if the issues identified by inspectors are resolved.

The Ashford CCG said it did not want to comment on the latest development. However, last week it said it would appoint an interim provider for the NHS 111 and out-of-hours services from July 2018 until March 2019. A new procurement would then be car- ried out to continue the services from April 1, 2019.

It is understood that inspectors from the CQC were making a monitoring visit to the company to check on progress.

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Contractor Primecare was rated ‘inadequate’ by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission