Scrap contracts that allow private firms to “play fast and loose” with GP surgeries, say LMCs

Time limited contracts that were introduced to allow private companies to run NHS GP surgeries should be scrapped following recent withdrawals that have disrupted patient care, local GP representatives have urged.The annual conference of England’s local medical committees (LMCs) heard that the recent decision by US firm Centene (Operose) to sell its network of around 60 GP clinics in England just two years after acquiring them1 showed it was time to stop using the alternative provider medical services (APMS) contractual route to give greater stability to practices and patients.A motion, passed by the meeting in London on 23 November, called for an end to APMS as a contractual option for general practice, and for any new or re-tendered contracts to be operated under a standard general medical service (GMS) contract.The motion also demanded that no funding over and above standard GMS should be provided to any commercial companies wishing to…
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