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Dr Wendy Savage |
GPs outbid the private sector to win £8m NHS centre contract
Campaigners happy that it’s gone local
A GROUP of doctors from the Angel have outbid private companies aiming to seize control of a massive NHS contract in Islington.
NHS Islington named Angel Medical Services (AMS) Ltd, a new not-for-profit company founded by doctors at the Ritchie Street Health Centre, as its preferred choice to run Islington biggest health centre.
The GP-led health centre will open until 8pm, 365 days a year in an expanded building in Ritchie Street next March.
Dr Sunil Limaye, managing director of AMS said: “It’s a privilege to be given an opportunity to provide the borough with a GP service that’s open 8am-8pm, 7 days a week.
“We look forward to improving access to healthcare for members of our community and congratulate NHS Islington in their decision allowing us to run this contract from within the NHS.”
NHS Islington’s decision to select local GPs for the £8million five-year contract has bucked a growing trend of providers contracting private operators to run new-style NHS clinics.
In July, Care UK Ltd was chosen by health chiefs in neighbouring Camden to run a similar health centre in Euston and Kent-based Malling Health Ltd won the tender in Westminster.
Hundreds of NHS contracts are being handed over to private companies across the country – but not in Islington.
Wendy Savage, an obstetrician and leading campaigner in Keep Our NHS Public, said: “I am delighted that the contract has gone to local GPs over private companies. But it remains the case that the whole process is flawed.
“Tendering is an incredibly time-consuming and costly process for GPs to go through.”
It is believed Ritchie Street doctors spent in the region of £40,000 preparing their bid to NHS Islington.
GP-led health centres are the brainchild of former health minister Lord Darzi, whose health reforms aimed to bring hospital outpatient services into community settings.
Every local health authority will have a GP-led health centre next year.
While doctors are generally supportive of the concept, many believe they are a cynical ploy to give private firms a foothold in the health service.
The AML health centre will treat 6,000 registered patients and offer a walk in service for thousands of unregistered patients.
Helen Pettersen, deputy chief executive of NHS Islington, said: “At NHS Islington we have heard the voice of the local residents regarding accessibility of services and we are committed to providing this.
“One of our key objectives is to improve and expand services delivered closer to home through commissioning GPs to provide more and better services.” |
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