UnitedHealth wins race for three London GP practices

30 Jan 08

One of the practices has been run for the past six months by four local GPs, who bid for the tender but lost out. They claim the decision by Camden PCT came down to cost.

Dr Alex Moghissi, a GP in Holborn, who was among those in the running for the contract, said: ‘There is not a level playing field, because it comes down to cost.'

Anotehr of the four, Dr Stephen Graham, added: 'I am dismayed that patients will have to endure yet another change in doctors.'

Dr Stephen Amiel, Chairman of Camden and Islington LMC said: 'The LMC is extremely worried that the chosen provider may have underestimated the resources needed in this practice, which can only result in a poorer quality service for patients.

'The Government told us that private providers would only be brought in under doctored areas if there was no alternative. Yet, in awarding these practices to a private company rather than to local GPs with a proven track record of providing quality care, Camden PCT is making a mockery of this promise – or perhaps the Government never meant what it said in the first place.'

Dr Peter Smith, director of primary care for UnitedHealth, said: ‘We are keen to build on the existing strong provision and develop additional services for patients and the local community.’

Meanwhile, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Healthcare is bidding to sign up GPs to work in a series of new primary care centres it is planning in 26 towns across the country, including Oxford, Birmingham and Manchester.

Virgin plans to offer long-term leases for GPs, who would operate alongside a range of fee-paying private services but says they would retain their NHS contracts.