In November 2023, NHS North East London (North East London Integrated Care Board) was notified of a potential change of control of AT Medics Ltd. AT Medics Ltd provides general practice care to patients across north east London.
NHS North East London then started a due diligence process to check that the proposed new owner of Operose Health Ltd is of good standing and assurance that the change of control would not affect service provision, with patients being able to access care in the same way and with the same practice teams.
In March 2024, we were advised that the ‘change of control’ had taken place on 28 December 2023. Subsequently, NHS North East London wrote to AT Medics Ltd issuing a breach notice to them on all the contracts they hold. We advised that this was considered to be a serious breach and consideration was given as to whether any further action should be taken at the Primary Care Contracts Sub-Committee in July 2024.
AT Medics Ltd holds six Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contracts in north east London, these are:
- The Loxford Practice – Redbridge
- Lucas Avenue Practice – Newham
- Carpenters Practice – Newham
- E16 Health – Newham
- Trowbridge Surgery– City & Hackney
- Goodman’s Field Centre – Tower Hamlets
In considering if there was any immediate further action to take, NHS North East London had to take into account a number of further factors including:
- The quality of care provided at AT Medics Ltd practices and compliance with their contract standards
- The feedback from public and patient engagement on the change of control
- The importance of continuity of care for patients
- The proportionality of issuing a termination notice and the fact that such a notice would be issued for reasons other than quality and performance
The committee reviewed these factors and found that whilst unhappy with the actions the new owner of AT Medics Ltd, have taken, given the current performance of the practices and the importance of continuity of care, we do not believe imposing a sanction of termination of contracts is proportionate at this time.
As the contracts, come up for potential extension we will carry out a comprehensive review of their performance before deciding the approach to potential extension or tendering for a new provider, as we would for all other APMS providers. All six contracts have review points for contract extension or contract end dates within the next two years with three of these occurring this year, two next year and one in two years’ time.
The full paper considered at the Primary Care Contracts Sub-Committee can be read here.
