• Four CCGs have appointed new out of hours providers after Allied Healthcare contracts collapse
  • Badger Group has taken on major contract in Birmingham

Four clinical commissioning groups have appointed new organisations to run GP out of hours services after the collapse of multiple contracts held by Allied Healthcare and its subsidiaries.

Last week, out of hours provider Primecare told GP practices in Birmingham that it would cease providing all services by 1 December. The announcement followed parent company Allied Healthcare’s decision to hand back all contracts.

Primecare has also withdrawn from out of hours contracts with Walsall, Herefordshire, and Sandwell and West Birmingham CCGs, as well as an end of life care contract with Nene CCG.

Allied Healthcare is a major provider of domiciliary care services across England. In November, following financial difficulties, it announced it was seeking to sell its business and transfer all contracts to a new provider by 21 December.

In a statement published on Friday, Birmingham and Solihull CCG confirmed the Badger Group had agreed to take over out of hours services for all its practices. Most practices had previously contracted Primecare through the CCG, while 14 had contracted the company separately.

Malling Healthcare is set to take over services for the three other CCGs in partnership with Walsall Healthcare Trust and GP owned social enterprise, Taurus Healthcare.

Nene CCG is yet to confirm a new provider for its end of life care services.

Allied Healthcare’s assets and services have been acquired by Health Care Resourcing Group Ltd, known as CRG.

In a statement, the firms said: “Despite this positive news, Allied Healthcare understands that a number of local authorities and CCGs are still considering proceeding with their contingency plans, which would see them transfer services to another provider, or bring services in house.

“With long-term financial arrangements in place and a clear commitment to the continuation of high quality services, Allied Healthcare would urge local authorities to consider the potential disruption that could be caused by transferring services, particularly at this time of year. CRG are confident that under Allied Healthcare’s new CEO, Narinder Singh, all stakeholders can be reassured that there will be no break in service.”

Source

CCG statements 

Source date

30 November 2018

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