NHS Mid and South Essex ICB has been notified of a potential change of control of Operose Health Ltd.
The Operose Health Group is involved in providing general practice care to patients across England, including in Rochford and Southend.
Whilst no change has taken place yet, we would like to explain the process and to reassure you, patients and wider stakeholders of the steps we will be taking to ensure that the proposed change will not adversely affect the GP practices.
What is happening?
The Operose Health Group is involved in providing services at the following practices in Rochford and Southend, specifically:
- The Practice Leecon Way, 1 Leecon Way, Rochford, Essex, SS4 1TU
- The Practice Northumberland Avenue, 32 Northumberland Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 2TH
Both practices are operated by “The Practice Surgeries Limited”. This company is part of the wider Operose Health Group of companies under the operation management of Operose Health Limited.
Operose Health recently wrote to the ICB to notify us of a change of control of Operose Health Ltd.
Operose Health have informed us that:
- The change of control arises as a result of a proposed change in ownership of Operose Health Ltd.
- It is intended that the ownership of Operose Health Ltd will transfer from the current owner, MH Services International (UK) Ltd, to “T20 Osprey Midco Limited (“HCRG Care Group”)”.
What it means for patients
All GP practices work under contract to the NHS and whether owned by GPs or other organisations, they must be able to meet strict standards and regulations that apply to all NHS providers.
As previously, the contract will continue to be held by The Practice Surgeries Limited and they will continue to be responsible for providing primary care services. We will be seeking assurance that patients will be able to continue to access the same services from the same locations as they do now.
If there is a change of control, please be assured that there will be no change to:
- the legal entity holding the contracts (The Practice Surgeries Limited);
- the contracts themselves;
- the services The Practice Surgeries Limited are required to provide, including locations, opening hours and service standards (including in respect of access and staffing).
Our responsibilities
As a commissioner of health services, it is NHS Mid and South Essex ICB’s role 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 (CQC) to ensure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety.
Operose Health have informed us that, while The Practice Surgeries Limited sits within the wider Operose Health Group and is under the operational management of Operose Health Ltd, The Practice Surgeries Limited itself is not undergoing a change of control because it is wholly owned by a medical practitioner and has no corporate holding company.
We are undertaking our own diligence process to verify this position and to check that the proposed new owner of Operose Health Ltd is of good standing. We will also seek assurance that the change of control would not affect service provision and that patients would not see any difference in their GP practice, so that patients will still access care in the same way and continue to see the same practice teams.
This matter will be considered at a meeting of the NHS Mid and South Essex Primary Care Commissioning Committee. We will publicise when the meeting occurs and interested members of the public will be able to submit comments and questions in advance of the meeting.
Next steps
We will take steps to let relevant practice patients know about this proposed change and answer the questions that they have.
As we move forward, we will seek to keep you advised as to what is happening. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please come back to us by emailing [email protected].