Privatising GP Practices by the back door

[Ianc2]

According to sky News an American health care company is buying up UK GP Practices. The Centene Group has been named as the organisation. Does any one know anything about them?

[Hidden]

Not had a chance to read this, but i am confused as the NHS don't own GP Practices they are owned by the GP Partners, as far as I am aware!

[gilreid1 in reply to Hidden]

Gaz my local health center (in Scotland)building is owned by NHS but the surgery is controlled by GP practice under the control of local health board.

[Hidden in reply to gilreid1]

Hmm maybe different in Scotland, in England I thought most where owned/leased by the business (GP Partners) and reimbursed by NHS! At least the ones I know in my local Primary Care Network.

So at worst the NHS may be selling buildings they own, not the Businesses as they are not owned by them.

[Peony4575 in reply to Hidden]

There are some owned by NHS but the majority as you say are privately owned by GPS who charge the NHS rent . In my area a few GPS have bought up several practices and employ the GPS as salaried . I don’t know about other companies but wouldn’t be surprised

[Hidden in reply to Peony4575]

Yea I work for a GP Practice, hence my surprise at the headline!

Most are owned by property companies and leased by the Practice’s.

So it’s not quite the NHS selling off it’s being made out to be.

[Peony4575 in reply to Hidden]

Not at all. Premises are too expensive for the vast majority of new GPS to buy into , the NHS can’t afford to own them all they are still sorting out the PFI debt for the hospitals , so somebody has to be prepared to build them. Think private companies in UK have been doing it for a long time

[Hidden in reply to Peony4575]

Yes, I worked in the Pub business for many years, most of them sold off their estates years ago, made commercial sense.

[gilreid1]

Yes Gaz I think that may well be the case

Stay safe

Gil

[Ianc2]

Rather like the care companies that were sold off to asset strippers who promptly sold off all the freeholds to other companies owned by themselves, then leased them back, declared a substantial special dividend , sold off the original care businesses and went merrily on their way, leaving all the people in the care homes to face much higher fees to pay the bills.

[Hidden in reply to Ianc2]

Except the ‘fees’ are paid by the NHS!

[Ianc2]

Only if you are on benefits. Not if you are a house owner and have pensions to be charged care fees against.

[Hidden in reply to Ianc2]

I was talking about the alleged sale of GP Practices, not care homes.

[TuckBox2]

Southwark NHS GP surgery sold to US corporation

This is from my local newsletter this morning