Campaigners are concerned over what they see as US “privatisation of the NHS by stealth” (Credit: Flickr / Jernej Furman)
A group of doctors and campaigners have written to the health secretary expressing concerns over the move to allow 37 more practices to be supplied by a branch of the US-based Centene Corporation.
The Loxford in Redbridge, Victoria Medical in Barking, and Carpenters in Newham are among the practices which were handed from AT Medics to the UK-branch of Centene, Operose Health.
On 10 February, all the directors of AT Medics Limited resigned and were replaced by Operose CEO Samantha Jones.
The letter urges Matt Hancock to investigate what they call an “example of the privatisation of the NHS by stealth” affecting surgeries used by 375,000 patients.
The signatories, including the chairs of Doctors for the NHS and Doctors in Unite, ask Mr Hancock to look into the “secret” process.
It says most of the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), which are responsible for planning local health services, “have published nothing about this significant change and held no meetings in public.
“This lack of openness and transparency, and even misrepresentation, cannot have occurred accidentally.
“If, as seems to be the case, the change occurred without the prior authorisation of commissioners, that is a serious breach.
“It is necessary to investigate and make public the due diligence process.”
It also says NHS England’s role is “unclear” but “the impression is given that the CCG was afforded no room for manoeuvre” by the national body.
“In conclusion, this matter is an example of the privatisation of the NHS by stealth to which we have consistently drawn attention, and which you have, equally consistently, dismissed.
“We do not expect you to change your point of view, but we are entitled to expect you to consider the matter objectively in light of the evidence and to make your decision on our request fairly.”
Operose already controls 21 surgeries, but this merger means it is now responsible for practices used by half a million patients.
The company has not yet returned Time 107.5’s request for a comment, but a spokesperson told the Guardian: “The care that we deliver to our patients and the services accessed though our surgeries will not change.
“We have followed all the required regulatory procedures, including obtaining consent from our CCGs. As a provider of NHS services, care remains free at the point of delivery. In addition, and as with all other GP services throughout the country, we will continue to be regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission.”
In 2018, a lawsuit was filed against Centene accusing it of misleading customers with coverage that was narrower than advertised.
The New York Times reported the lawsuit alleged: “Centene misrepresents the number, location and existence of purported providers by listing physicians, medical groups and other providers — some of whom have specifically asked to be removed — as participants in their networks and by listing nurses and other non-physicians as primary care providers.
“Members have difficulty finding — and in many cases cannot find — medical providers.”
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Tags: Newham, Redbridge, Barking, Healthcare
