Takeover of GP surgery 'concerning'
The Whitehawk surgery is currently run by the Wellsbourne Healthcare Community Interest Company, but it could be handed over to Leeds-based One Medical Group after NHS Sussex started procuring for a new contract.
NHS Sussex said it could not comment on the procurement process as it was still under way.
Janet Sang, part of Sussex Defend NHS, said the campaign group was "extremely concerned" that an "effective and well-loved GP service" could be transferred to a profit-making entity.
"We believe this is... not in the best interests of the people of Whitehawk," she added.
One Medical Group, which said it had more than two decades of experience in "delivering high-quality primary care services across the UK", said it could not comment as the procurement process was ongoing.
It added it had "consistently delivered [NHS services] to the highest standard across diverse demographics".
"We pride ourselves on.... our collaborative approach with local communities, ensuring that healthcare is both reflective and responsive to local needs," it continued.
NHS Sussex said it needed to procure a new contract for running the doctor's surgery, which serves around 8,300 people, as the current one has expired.
It said the new contract had been designed to meet the needs of the local population in what it called one of the most deprived areas in Sussex.
Wellsbourne Healthcare CIC took over the GP surgery several years ago after the previous private provider walked away, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Anger over uncertain future of GP surgery
Brighton & Hove City Councillor David McGregor, who said he planned to attend the tug-of-war event, said the Wellsbourne Healthcare CIC had done a "fantastic job" and NHS Sussex should "reconsider".
Chris Ward, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has started a petition - titled Save Wellsbourne Healthcare - that has more than 3,000 signatures as of 5 June.
Sarah Webb, business manager at Wellsbourne Healthcare CIC, previously urged NHS Sussex to talk to the people of Whitehawk.
"Listen to residents," she told BBC Radio Sussex in May.
Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
Anger over uncertain future of GP surgery
NHS Sussex
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
FACT FOCUS: Trump says he's cut drug prices by up to 1,500%. That's not possible
Days after he sent letters instructing top pharmaceutical manufacturers to use a 'most favored nation' pricing model for prescription drugs, President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he had cut costs by up to 1,500%. But Trump's grandiose claim is mathematically impossible. Here's a closer look at the facts. TRUMP: "You know, we've cut drug prices by 1,200, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500%. I don't mean 50%, I mean 14 — 1,500%.' THE FACTS: This is false. Cutting drug prices by more than 100% would theoretically mean that people are being paid to take medications. The Trump administration has taken steps to lower prescription drug prices, but experts say there's no indication costs have seen such a massive drop. Geoffrey Joyce, director of health policy at the University of Southern California's Schaeffer Center, called Trump's claim 'total fiction' made up by the Republican president. He agreed that it would amount to drug companies paying customers, rather than the other way around. 'I find it really difficult to translate those numbers into some actual estimates that patients would see at the pharmacy counter,' said Mariana Socal, an associate professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University who studies the U.S. pharmaceutical market. She added that Trump's math is 'really hard to follow.' Asked what Trump was using to back up his claim, White House spokesman Kush Desai said: 'It's an objective fact that Americans are paying exponentially more for the same exact drugs as people in other developed countries pay, and it's an objective fact that no other Administration has done more to rectify this unfair burden for the American people.' The White House provided a chart of price differentials for drugs in the U.S. and comparable countries, but did not offer any other evidence. On Sunday, Trump also described cuts to drug prices as a future development, not that already happened. 'So we'll be dropping drug prices,' he said. 'It will start over the next two to three months by 1,200, 1,300 and even 1,400%.' Prices for most prescription drugs — unbranded generics are the exception — are higher in the U.S. than they are in other high-income countries. This is in large part due to the way drug prices are negotiated in the United States. Trump made his recent appeal in letters to 17 pharmaceutical manufacturers, the White House announced last week. He asked them to reduce costs in the U.S. by matching the lowest prices of prescriptions drugs in other comparably developed countries. Some drugmakers have since indicated that they are open to cutting costs. This move follows an executive order Trump signed in May setting a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to electively lower prices in the U.S. or face new limits in the future over what the government will pay. The federal government has the most power to shape the price it pays for drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid. It's unclear what — if any — impact the Trump administration's efforts will have on millions of Americans who have private health insurance. Socal pointed out that if drug manufacturers had cut costs to the extent Trump claims, they would be shouting it from the rooftops, especially given the heat they've taken over the years for their pricing practices. 'My expectation would be that they would make announcements — public announcements — and that those announcements would come way in advance of the actual effective dates when those price cuts would come into effect,' she said. Joyce agreed that there has been no indication of a substantial cut. 'Not at all, not at all, none whatsoever,' he said. 'And let alone 1,500.' ___ Find AP Fact Checks here:
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
FACT FOCUS: Trump says he's cut drug prices by up to 1,500%. That's not possible
Days after he sent letters instructing top pharmaceutical manufacturers to use a 'most favored nation' pricing model for prescription drugs, President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he had cut costs by up to 1,500%. But Trump's grandiose claim is mathematically impossible. Here's a closer look at the facts. TRUMP: 'You know, we've cut drug prices by 1,200, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500%. I don't mean 50%, I mean 14 — 1,500%.' THE FACTS: This is false. Cutting drug prices by more than 100% would theoretically mean that people are being paid to take medications. The Trump administration has taken steps to lower prescription drug prices, but experts say there's no indication costs have seen such a massive drop. Geoffrey Joyce, director of health policy at the University of Southern California's Schaeffer Center, called Trump's claim 'total fiction' made up by the Republican president. He agreed that it would amount to drug companies paying customers, rather than the other way around. 'I find it really difficult to translate those numbers into some actual estimates that patients would see at the pharmacy counter,' said Mariana Socal, an associate professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University who studies the U.S. pharmaceutical market. She added that Trump's math is 'really hard to follow.' Asked what Trump was using to back up his claim, White House spokesman Kush Desai said: 'It's an objective fact that Americans are paying exponentially more for the same exact drugs as people in other developed countries pay, and it's an objective fact that no other Administration has done more to rectify this unfair burden for the American people.' The White House provided a chart of price differentials for drugs in the U.S. and comparable countries, but did not offer any other evidence. On Sunday, Trump also described cuts to drug prices as a future development, not that already happened. 'So we'll be dropping drug prices,' he said. 'It will start over the next two to three months by 1,200, 1,300 and even 1,400%.' Prices for most prescription drugs — unbranded generics are the exception — are higher in the U.S. than they are in other high-income countries. This is in large part due to the way drug prices are negotiated in the United States. Trump made his recent appeal in letters to 17 pharmaceutical manufacturers, the White House announced last week. He asked them to reduce costs in the U.S. by matching the lowest prices of prescriptions drugs in other comparably developed countries. Some drugmakers have since indicated that they are open to cutting costs. This move follows an executive order Trump signed in May setting a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to electively lower prices in the U.S. or face new limits in the future over what the government will pay. The federal government has the most power to shape the price it pays for drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid. It's unclear what — if any — impact the Trump administration's efforts will have on millions of Americans who have private health insurance. Socal pointed out that if drug manufacturers had cut costs to the extent Trump claims, they would be shouting it from the rooftops, especially given the heat they've taken over the years for their pricing practices. 'My expectation would be that they would make announcements — public announcements — and that those announcements would come way in advance of the actual effective dates when those price cuts would come into effect,' she said. Joyce agreed that there has been no indication of a substantial cut. 'Not at all, not at all, none whatsoever,' he said. 'And let alone 1,500.' ___ Find AP Fact Checks here:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Regional Health Properties, Inc. and SunLink Health Systems, Inc. Announce Receipt of Shareholder Approvals for Merger
Atlanta, GA, Aug. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regional Health Properties, Inc. ('Regional') (OTCQB: RHEP) (OTCQB: RHEPA) and SunLink Health Systems, Inc. ('SunLink') (NYSE American: SSY) jointly announced today that, at special meetings of their respective shareholders each held on August 4, 2025, Regional shareholders and SunLink shareholders approved the merger of SunLink with and into Regional, with Regional as the surviving corporation pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 14, 2025, as amended, by and between Regional and SunLink. The SunLink shareholders also approved at their special meeting, on a non-binding advisory basis, the SunLink merger-related compensation proposal. The closing of the proposed merger remains subject to customary closing conditions. The Regional shareholders also approved at their special meeting the issuance of shares of Regional common stock, no par value, and Series D 8% Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Participating Preferred Shares, no par value per share (the 'Series D Preferred Stock'), in connection with the merger. Descriptions of the Series D Preferred Stock were previously disclosed in Regional's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on April 18, 2025, and included in Regional's joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on June 25, 2025, as supplemented or amended. About Regional Health Properties, Inc. Regional Health Properties, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a self-managed healthcare real estate investment company that invests primarily in real estate purposed for senior living and long-term care. For more information, visit About SunLink Health Systems, Inc. SunLink Health Systems, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is the parent company of subsidiaries that own and operate Carmichael's Cashway Pharmacy. For more information, visit NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION Communications in this press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any proxy vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act'). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE TO FILED WITH THE SEC ON JULY 18, 2025 REGARDING A PROPOSED TENDER OFFER, AS WELL AS THE SCHEDULE 14D-9 FILED BY REGIONAL ON AUGUST 1, 2025 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements can often, but not always, be identified by the use of words like 'believe', 'continue', 'pattern', 'estimate', 'project', 'intend', 'anticipate', 'expect' and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as 'will', 'would', 'should', 'could', 'might', 'can', 'may', or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected timing and benefits of the proposed merger between Regional and SunLink, including statements of Regional's goals, intentions and expectations; statements regarding Regional's business plan and growth strategies; and statements regarding the tender offer. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements, including, among other things: the risk that the businesses of Regional and SunLink will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; expected revenue synergies and cost savings from the merger may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; revenues following the merger may be lower than expected; customer, vendor and employee relationships and business operations may be disrupted by the merger; the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals and the ability to complete the merger on the expected timeframe; the costs and effects of litigation and the possible unexpected or adverse outcomes of such litigation; the ability of Regional and SunLink to meet the initial or continued listing requirements or rules of the NYSE American LLC or the OTCQB, as applicable, and to maintain the listing or trading, as applicable, of securities thereon; possible changes in economic and business conditions; the impacts of epidemics, pandemics or other infectious disease outbreaks; the existence or exacerbation of general geopolitical instability and uncertainty; possible changes in monetary and fiscal policies, and laws and regulations; competitive factors in the healthcare industry; Regional's dependence on the operating success of its operators; the amount of, and Regional's ability to service, its indebtedness; covenants in Regional's debt agreements that may restrict its ability to make investments, incur additional indebtedness and refinance indebtedness on favorable terms; the effect of increasing healthcare regulation and enforcement on Regional's operators and the dependence of Regional's operators on reimbursement from governmental and other third-party payors; the relatively illiquid nature of real estate investments; the impact of litigation and rising insurance costs on the business of Regional's operators; the effect of Regional's operators declaring bankruptcy, becoming insolvent or failing to pay rent as due; the ability of any of Regional's operators in bankruptcy to reject unexpired lease obligations and to impede its ability to collect unpaid rent or interest during the pendency of a bankruptcy proceeding and retain security deposits for the debtor's obligations; Regional's ability to find replacement operators and the impact of unforeseen costs in acquiring new properties; and other risks and factors identified in (i) Regional's cautionary language included under the headings 'Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements' and 'Risk Factors' in the Regional Annual Report, and other documents subsequently filed by Regional with the SEC and (ii) SunLink's cautionary language included under the headings 'Forward-Looking Statements' and 'Risk Factors' in SunLink's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2024, and other documents subsequently filed by SunLink with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and neither Regional nor SunLink undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in this press release. In addition, Regional's and SunLink's past results of operations do not necessarily indicate either of their anticipated future results, whether the merger is effectuated or not. Regional ContactBrent Morrison, CFAChief Executive Officer & PresidentRegional Health Properties, (404) SunLink Contact Robert M. Thornton, Executive Officer(770) 933-7004Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
