A meeting of NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB) has reached a decision about several local GP practice contracts, having reviewed them following contractual breaches.
The NCL ICB Primary Care Committee determined that the contracts for five GP practices in Camden and Islington operated by AT Medics Ltd will be reprocured over the next 18 months.
All GP practices will remain open and services for patients will continue uninterrupted. The Committee decided to end current contracts at Brunswick Medical Centre, Camden Health Improvement Practice, Kings Cross Surgery, Somers Town Medical Centre and the Mitchison Road Surgery. An 18-month extension period was agreed to ensure patient services continue uninterrupted whilst new arrangements are secured.
The extended access hub service in Camden will remain under the operation of AT Medics for the remainder of the existing contract. This expires in September 2025.
Sarah McDonnell-Davies, Executive Director of Place for NCL ICB said: “Our absolute priority is the provision of high quality, safe and accessible services for local people. We work closely with our practice and provider teams and actively monitor our services. We strive to ensure our decisions are balanced and consider feedback from patients, members of the public and stakeholders.”
At the end of 2023, a change of ownership at Operose Health Ltd (owners of AT Medics Ltd) took place that required ICB consent. This had not been given when the transfer took place which represented a serious contractual breach, prompting the Committee to review these contracts.
She adds: “Quality, outcomes, experience of and confidence in local services are critical. The Committee considered a number of options but felt on balance, a change of management should be sought”.
“Colleagues across General Practice teams are working extremely hard to support patients and to positively transform services. We thank them for their work and our patients and partners for their engagement and support.”
Notes
AT Medics Ltd provides general practice services to patients from a number of sites in NCL and nationally operates approximately 60 GP practices.
The contracts held in North Central London are:
- St Ann’s Road Surgery, Haringey
- Mitchison Road Surgery, Islington
- Kings Cross Surgery, Camden
- Somers Town Medical Centre, Camden
- Brunswick Medical Centre, Camden
- Camden Health Improvement Practice, Camden
- GP Extended Access Hubs at Somers Town Medical Centre and Brondesbury Medical Centre, Camden.
A separate decision was made relating to St Ann’s Road Surgery at the June Committee earlier this year, which will also see that contract (which ended on June 30 2024) being reprocured.
As a commissioner of NHS services, NCL ICB’s main priority is the provision of high quality, safe and accessible services.
NCL ICB monitors the quality and performance of GP services to ensure that the care provided meets the strict NHS standards and regulations and the needs of local people.
Further information on the change of control and the process to date is available here
Meeting papers and further information on the Primary Care Committee is available here