GP practice appeals ICB decision to award its APMS contract to private provider

Doctors running a GP practice in Brighton are appealing the decision by the local ICB to transfer their APMS contract to a private provider.

Wellsbourne Healthcare, a community interest company set up in 2018 by doctors and nurses working in the area, has been running the practice in Whitehawk for the past seven years.

As their current contract is ending, Sussex ICB is now ‘intending to award’ it to Leeds-based One Medical Group, a private company providing primary care services.

According to a contract award decision notice published last month, the service value is £1,157,738 per annum, or £8,104,166 over the next seven years.  

The community interest company is now appealing the ICB’s intention, with the backing of patients, local councillors and the local MP who said that this is ‘putting continuity of care, patient safety and trusted relationships at risk’.

Wellsbourne Healthcare told Pulse it cannot comment on the issue, but in a statement it asked patients to challenge the decision by writing to the ICB.

It said: ‘We know this news will come as a shock. For the past seven years, we’ve worked hard to build a local, trusted, and caring practice that puts patients first—especially those facing the greatest health challenges. We are proud of what we’ve created together with this community.

‘This is happening because our current contract with NHS Sussex is coming to an end. It’s important to us that you know that this decision is not a result of anything we have done as a practice.

‘We do not want to give up this practice and it is not being taken from us because we are performing badly. We want to stay and continue to provide excellent care to you and your families.  

‘Most importantly, we do not believe that this change will lead to good healthcare for Whitehawk. The decision to remove a not-for-profit, local service and replace it with a profit-making company from outside the area is deeply concerning to us.

‘We are appealing the decision, and there is a chance it could be reversed, but we need your support.’

A petition opposing the decision, started by MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven Chris Ward, has gathered over 3,000 signatures so far.

It said: ‘Wellsbourne is not being removed for poor performance. In fact, it’s the opposite. This is a trusted, locally-rooted service run by a skilled and dedicated team who understand this community and its needs.

‘We believe that our GP services should stay in the hands of people who live and work with us — not outsourced to companies from outside our city whose first priority may be profit.

‘We call on NHS Sussex to reverse this decision and keep Wellsbourne Healthcare as Whitehawk’s GP provider.’

Local councillors have also written to the ICB calling on the commissioner to ‘carefully reconsider’ the decision.

The letter, signed by 12 Labour councillor, said: ‘We are deeply concerned to heat that the effective and highly regarded Wellsbourne Healthcare CIC in Whitehawk is at risk of losing its contract.

‘We have heard from residents that the hugely value the surgery, and have been impressed with the quality of care received.

‘We are concerned that a local not-for-profit service will be replaced by a profit-making company form outside the area.’

Campaigning group Sussex Defend Our NHS has also organised a protest against the decision, taking place in Brighton on 14 June.

One Medical Group told Pulse that the procurement process remains in a standstill period so the company ‘cannot comment on any specifics’ at this time.

It added: ‘One Medical Group is a family-owned organisation with more than two decades of experience in delivering high-quality primary care services across the UK. Operating nationally, we are supported by a team of over 450 dedicated healthcare professionals.’  

In a statement, Sussex ICB said: ‘This process is still underway, and as a result, we are unable to comment further until the procurement has officially been completed.

‘However, we have seen, and are aware of, the concern being raised to us, and we will respond further as soon as we are able.’

Last year, a well-liked Lancashire GP managed to keep her practice’s APMS contract following relentless campaigning by her patients over the past two years.

Private provider SSP Health had initially been awarded the contract, but this caused patient protests and the ICB was forced to re-run the procurement process.