AT Medics transfer of holdings to Operose Health Ltd

AT Medics Ltd (ATML) holds 34 Alternative Provider of Medical Services (APMS) contracts and a small number of NHS Standard Contracts across London. In North West London (NWL) it holds eight APMS contracts which are for:

• Burnley Practice (NHS Brent CCG)
• The Wembley Practice (NHS Brent CCG)
• The Randolph Surgery (NHS Central London CCG)
• Canberra Old Oak Surgery (NHS Hammersmith and Fulham CCG)
• Cassidy Medical Centre (NHS Hammersmith and Fulham CCG)
• Mollison Way Practice (NHS Harrow CCG)
• Barlby Surgery (NHS West London CCG)
• Earls Court Health and Wellbeing (NHS West London CCG)
• Kings Road Medical Centre (NHS West London CCG)

Change of control of ATML has transferred from the directors of ATML to Operose Health Ltd – a company that holds a number of GP contracts and other health service contracts across London and in other parts of the country. 

All GP practices work under contract to the NHS and whether owned by GPs or other organisations can bid for contracts across the country. However they must be able to meet strict standards and regulations that apply to all NHS providers. 

AT Medics had to ask permission of the NHS (the CCGs that commission the relevant services) for the change in control. This is allowed under the terms of the GP contract. In this case, the transfer was approved as there was no legal or contractual basis for the CCG to reject the transfer of control and it will not alter the service that is required under the contract.  

The change in control was approved by each NWL Primary Care Commissioning Committee (PCCC) via Meeting in Public or Chair’s action in December 2020, as a number of committees were unable to meet due to the focus on managing the pandemic.  Where that happened, the decision will be reported at the next available meeting in public.

As a commissioner of health services, CCGs’ role is to ensure the provision of high quality, safe services for local people. In addition, all health service providers are regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission to ensure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. 

As part of a due diligence process undertaken prior to considering the change in control we sought assurance that our patients and their care would not be affected. AT Medics Ltd advised us that they will continue to run the GP practices as they do now and patients will continue to see the same doctors and nurses. although over time there may be some natural changes in staff as people choose to move to new jobs. Care remains free at the point of delivery. 

Our commissioning practices in relation to AT Medics have followed the same rules and guidance as we apply to all our GP contracts and any decisions taken were informed by legal and national guidance. In this case, there was no legal or contractual basis for the CCG to reject the transfer of control of AT Medics Ltd., and doing so would have posed a risk to continuity of high quality of care for local residents.

When existing contracts are up for renewal, AT Medics, along with all other appropriate providers, will be able to bid for the contracts and as part of this will need to demonstrate their performance on a range of different parameters such as service quality, access, workforce and patient engagement.