Camden patients ‘in dark’ over UnitedHealth surgeries sale - American giant sells GP services to rival Practice plc

Published: 28 April 2011
by TOM FOOT

PATIENTS registered at three Camden GP practices sold by an American health giant to a rival company last week were not told about the changes.

UnitedHealth, who had boasted of how well they had run the surgeries since a controversial takeover in 2008, said it was not up to them to inform thousands of unknowing patients of the transaction.

A UnitedHealth spokes­woman said: “It’s not one for us. This is a simple transfer of ownership and patients will be seeing the same doctors and nurses.”

But the sale to The Practice Plc was exactly the kind of move that NHS campaigners warned of when they protested against UnitedHealth’s initial introduction to the borough three years ago. 

They warned that patients would lose a say in how their surgeries were run and would be unable to scrutinise performance.

The UnitedHealth UK surgery sell-off was introduced to Thursday’s Town Hall health scrutiny committee meeting agenda “as a matter of urgency” following a story in the New Journal last week.

Labour councillor Adam Harrison told the meeting: “I must express an interest as I am a patient at the Brunswick [Medical Centre].”

When asked if he was informed of the change before it was agreed, Cllr Harrison replied: “No, I certainly was not.”

Chairman of the committee, Liberal Democrat councillor John Bryant, said: “We are in a no man’s land.”

The panel has asked for clarification from NHS bosses on how contracts are managed and transferred apparently behind closed doors.

When UnitedHealth outbid local doctors to seize control of surgeries in King’s Cross Road, at the Brunswick Centre and in Camden Road, there was a series of meetings and public debate.

The firm’s deal was tested by a legal challenge and the tendering process was scrutinised by Camden’s health watchdog, the LINk.

A group of doctors had wanted to run their own surgeries without private interest but could not compete with the bigger bidder on budgets.

The Practice Plc website says the company runs 50 practices across the country and was formed after taking over another firm, Chilvers McCrea. 

The coalition government has proposed passing control of NHS funding to groups of GPs – but not all of them want to take that burden on. 

Practice Plc’s chief executive Peter Watts has said he would help struggling GPs in their new commissioning role.

In a statement to the New Journal yesterday (Wednesday), he added: “These practices are a credit to their staff and as a team we will work together to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.  

“We want to reassure patients there will be complete continuity in the way the surgeries run and they will continue to see the same doctors, nurses and continue to receive the same high quality service they do now. 

“In the future, patients will benefit from The Practice’s experience in running GP surgeries and our continued investment in staff and systems. We will build on the good work UnitedHealth has put into place and plan to consult and communicate with patients as any changes arise.”

The North Central London Sector NHS Trust has been unavailable for comment.

Campaigners against the privatisation of the NHS will march from University College Hospital to Whitehall on May 17 from 5.30pm.

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