* Multinational moves in on inner-city general practices.
www.keepournhspublic.com/newsroundup.php
In what is thought to be the first deal of its kind, private
healthcare giant UnitedHealth Europe has been awarded the
contract to run a general practice left vacant by a retiring
single-handed GP. UnitedHealth Europe won the contract to run
the 3,000-patient Normanton practice in inner-city Derby against
three other tenders It will be one of the first alternative
provider medical services (APMS) practices in the area. The
secretary of Derbyshire LMC warned that APMS could result in
premises becoming more centralised and less accessible, if
practices were run on a purely profit-driven basis. NHS Alliance
chairman Dr Michael Dixon said: 'It's a sign of the times. But
it's just the tip of the iceberg.'
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