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GP ‘super practice’ expands into troubled city with four-practice takeover

Birmingham-based GP ‘super practice’ Modality is expanding into Hull with the addition of four GP practices in the city.

The addition of Faith House Surgery; New Hall Surgery; Newland Group Medical Practice; and the Springhead Medical Centre will see Modality covering 48,000 patients in Hull.

The addition of the four practices – which between them have 16 GP partners that will join the partnership and pool their budgets – will take the total patient list of the super practice to 150,000.

Modality, which is an NHS England multispecialty community provider (MCP) ‘vanguard’ pilot site, will now look after back-office functions such as indemnity, governance and CQC preparations on behalf of the Hull practices in an effort to free up GP time.

The news comes as Hull has experienced severe GP recruitment problems in recent years, with prior attempts at solutions including a ditched incentive scheme to attract candidates and a recent announcement of GP hires from the EU.

Modality, which previously operates from 25 sites in Birmingham, Sandwell and Walsall, claims to have made their practice more efficient by moving 80% of patient contact out of practices – instead using telephone or online consultations.

Dr Ros Davies, a partner at New Hall Surgery and lead for the Hull division of Modality, described the combination as a ‘fantastic opportunity’.

She said: ‘By being a part of a larger group of GP practices, we can realistically achieve our goals and deliver excellent patient care for all.

‘This will help us to improve access and care for all of our patients and to create sustainable GP services that are fit for the future.’

Modality lead partner Dr Naresh Rati said: ‘It is great working with like-minded local GPs who are coming together to transform general practice in their local area.’

It comes as the Our Health Partnership super practice in Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield is also due to expand, adding nine GP practices and taking its patient list to 370,000.