Tesco and Boots opt out of GP scheme
Published: 31 August 2007 00:00
Author: Victoria Vaughan
Virgin, Tesco, NetCare, and Boots have said they will not be
bidding to provide GP practices under a scheme designed to
extend services in under-doctored areas.
The companies had previously been mooted as potential bidders
for the Fairness in Primary Care procurement scheme (see 'GP
tendering could herald new era of competition for practices').
Nine primary care trusts in under-doctored areas are involved in
the scheme, which allows them to contract out GP services under
the alternative provider medical services contract.
County Durham, Great Yarmouth, Hartlepool and Nottinghamshire
County PCTs are in the first tranche of the scheme. Ashton,
Leigh and Wigan, Bolton, East Lancashire, Luton and Manchester
PCTs are in the second.
HSJ understands there have been more than 40 bids for the
contracts in tranche one.
Independent providers IntraHealth, Care UK and Chilvers-McCrea
Healthcare, which already provide GP services, have confirmed
that they are making bids to provide practices. IntraHealth,
which runs four practices, is involved in the first tranche and
has been shortlisted to participate in the invitation to tender
stage.
The British Medical Association has expressed concerns about the
possibility of the scheme being extended to areas without a GP
shortage.
Story from HSJ:
http://www.hsj.co.uk/news/independent_sector_bids_for_gp_services.html
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