A London primary care trust has selected a GP-led company as preferred bidder to run six practices.

Hounslow PCT in west London announced last week that it will enter contract negotiations with Greenbrook Healthcare after receiving 170 applications from 42 providers to run the six practices, which are currently directly managed by the PCT.

The company was set up last year to bid for the contract. It involves Hammersmith GP David Wingfield and businessmen Mark Steel and Peter Scott.

Dr Wingfield, who is clinical director, is a partner with the Brook Green Medical Centre, a training practice in Hammersmith, London. He is also a member of the Hammersmith and Fulham PCT professional executive committee and the local medical committee. He holds no posts in Hounslow PCT.

Peter Scott, who chairs Greenbrook Healthcare, is co-founder of financial publisher and information provider Hemmington Scott. He is also chair of Medicentre Developments, which specialises in developing GP premises,. and of Medibureau PLC, which offers 'healthcare management solutions'.

A Hounslow PCT spokesperson said the organisation was keen to shed direct management responsibility for the six practices it had inherited over the years after GPs had retired without finding new partners to take them on. Greenbrook Healthcare had proposed to take on all six and manage them as a package.

Mr Steel said he was not able to discuss any details of the contract being negotiated.

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