Latest news with #eHarleyStreet
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Patient 'anxiety' as GP company hands back surgery
A GP management company that was criticised by patients, doctors and the first minister is handing back its only Cardiff-based surgery. Safety, staffing and supply concerns at practices managed by Leicestershire-based eHarley Street were revealed by BBC Wales at the end of last year - prompting criticism from Eluned Morgan. Corporation Road Surgery in Butetown will be the sixth Welsh surgery managed by the company to be handed back to the local health board. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said it "appreciates this will cause anxiety" but was trying to find a "solution". eHarley Street has been asked to comment. Inquiry demand for GPs where patients feel 'unsafe' Angry doctors owed thousands refuse to work FM attacks GP firm allegedly not paying staff The surgery will be handed back to the health board on 29 August, with the board saying it recognises the announcement will cause "anxiety" for patients, and "appropriate healthcare" would continue until then. A letter seen by BBC Wales said the partners at the practice were "resigning from their GMS (General Medical Services) contract". The GP partners running the surgery are the same people who run eHarley Street, which is a private company based in Hinckley, Leicestershire. A meeting will be held next week to discuss how future services for the 3,000 patients will be delivered. The health board said its focus was "to ensure services are provided closer to home". In November BBC Wales revealed locum doctors were refusing to work at Welsh surgeries managed by eHarley Street, because of claims they were owed about £250,000 in unpaid wages. Doctors also warned of "dangerous" staffing levels and "potentially catastrophic" supply shortages at practices supported by the GP management company. All of the claims were denied by eHarley Street, who at the time said it did "not hold any contracts for General Medical Services (GMS) in Wales". Until recently eHarley Street managed nine Welsh surgeries: Brynmawr Medical Practice, Blaenau Gwent Blaenavon Medical Practice, Torfaen Pontypool Medical Centre, Torfaen Bryntirion Surgery, Bargoed, Caerphilly Tredegar Medical Practice, Blaenau Gwent Aberbeeg Medical Practice, Blaenau Gwent Gelligaer Surgery, Caerphilly county Lliswerry Medical Centre, Newport The Corporation Road Surgery, Cardiff The GP partners who ran the surgeries said they were being handed back because of "political, financial and operational pressures". Last month BBC Wales revealed NHS officials took months to meet doctors following complaints about surgeries run by eHarley Street in the Aneurin Bevan health board area. At the time the health board said it placed the surgeries under enhanced monitoring after concerns were raised. In a previous statement, the eHarley Street partners who run the surgeries said they faced "significant financial constraints" but were "committed to addressing these challenges". Senedd members have already called for answers to how the Leicestershire-based private company came to operate within the Welsh NHS. In December there were demands for an inquiry into eHarley Street after patients, some with terminal illnesses, said they were having difficulty accessing appointments and treatments. In a statement, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: "The health board appreciates this will cause anxiety for patients and the local community, but we are working hard to find a solution to maintain services for the patients of Corporation Road Surgery. "Our focus is to ensure services are provided closer to home and together with our stakeholders we will establish a way forward to ensure future provision of GP services to all existing patients. "In the meantime, we will keep the local community updated with details of future provision as we work through a solution."
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
eHarley Street: Cardiff GP surgery handed back to health board
A GP management company that was criticised by patients, doctors and the first minister is handing back its only Cardiff-based staffing and supply concerns at practices managed by Leicestershire-based eHarley Street were revealed by BBC Wales at the end of last year - prompting criticism from Eluned Road Surgery in Butetown will be the sixth Welsh surgery managed by the company to be handed back to the local health and Vale University Health Board said it "appreciates this will cause anxiety" but was trying to find a "solution".eHarley Street has been asked to comment. The surgery will be handed back to the health board on 29 August, with the board saying it recognises the announcement will cause "anxiety" for patients, and "appropriate healthcare" would continue until then.A letter seen by BBC Wales said the partners at the practice were "resigning from their GMS (General Medical Services) contract".The GP partners running the surgery are the same people who run eHarley Street, which is a private company based in Hinckley, Leicestershire.A meeting will be held next week to discuss how future services for the 3,000 patients will be health board said its focus was "to ensure services are provided closer to home".In November BBC Wales revealed locum doctors were refusing to work at Welsh surgeries managed by eHarley Street, because of claims they were owed about £250,000 in unpaid also warned of "dangerous" staffing levels and "potentially catastrophic" supply shortages at practices supported by the GP management of the claims were denied by eHarley Street, who at the time said it did "not hold any contracts for General Medical Services (GMS) in Wales". Until recently eHarley Street managed nine Welsh surgeries:Brynmawr Medical Practice, Blaenau GwentBlaenavon Medical Practice, TorfaenPontypool Medical Centre, TorfaenBryntirion Surgery, Bargoed, CaerphillyTredegar Medical Practice, Blaenau GwentAberbeeg Medical Practice, Blaenau GwentGelligaer Surgery, Caerphilly countyLliswerry Medical Centre, NewportThe Corporation Road Surgery, Cardiff The GP partners who ran the surgeries said they were being handed back because of "political, financial and operational pressures".Last month BBC Wales revealed NHS officials took months to meet doctors following complaints about surgeries run by eHarley Street in the Aneurin Bevan health board the time the health board said it placed the surgeries under enhanced monitoring after concerns were a previous statement, the eHarley Street partners who run the surgeries said they faced "significant financial constraints" but were "committed to addressing these challenges".Senedd members have already called for answers to how the Leicestershire-based private company came to operate within the Welsh NHS. Call for inquiry In December there were demands for an inquiry into eHarley Street after patients, some with terminal illnesses, said they were having difficulty accessing appointments and treatments. In a statement, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: "The health board appreciates this will cause anxiety for patients and the local community, but we are working hard to find a solution to maintain services for the patients of Corporation Road Surgery."Our focus is to ensure services are provided closer to home and together with our stakeholders we will establish a way forward to ensure future provision of GP services to all existing patients."In the meantime, we will keep the local community updated with details of future provision as we work through a solution."
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Calls for inquiry into GP management 'scandal'
There have been calls for an independent inquiry into the "scandal" surrounding an under-fire GP management company. Safety, staffing and supply concerns at surgeries managed by eHarley Street were revealed by BBC Wales in November, with "potentially catastrophic" shortages and hundreds of thousands of pounds allegedly owed in employee wages. At a Blaenau Gwent council meeting on 20 February, councillors from all across the political spectrum will put forward a four-point motion which includes calls for an inquiry. Earlier this month, it was revealed that a GP partnership which used the services of England-based management company eHarley Street had handed back control of several surgeries to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, including practices in Brynmawr and Tredegar. Angry doctors owed thousands refuse to work Inquiry demand for GPs where patients feel 'unsafe' Under fire GP company hands more surgeries back Blaenau Gwent councillors previously said that they wanted to meet health chiefs to discuss issues at the surgeries, including residents struggling to book appointments as well as staff not being paid for their work. The motion said: "The scandal of eHarley Street's involvement in primary care in Blaenau Gwent and beyond reveals how patients, staff, nurses and doctors have been badly let down. "The non-payment of staff, tax and pensions contributions and suppliers has had a severe and detrimental impact on local primary care." It continued: "Blaenau Gwent is proud to be birthplace of the NHS and its founder, Aneurin Bevan. "It was created based on the collective principle of medical care available to rich and poor alike in accordance with medical need, and no other criteria." It added health inequalities in Blaenau Gwent were "some of the starkest in the UK", with life expectancy below the Welsh average and many people living with poor health and chronic conditions. "Primary care plays a vital role in early intervention and keeping people safe and well." The motion said councillors would welcome the resignation of the partnership from all surgeries in Blaenau Gwent for which it holds contracts. It also urged health minister Jeremy Miles to commission an urgent review into GP contracts in Wales. The motion is backed by deputy council leader, Helen Cunningham, and her Labour colleagues Peter Baldwin, Sonia Behr, Jules Gardner, Tommy Smith, Jacqueline Thomas, and Lisa Winnett. The opposition Independent group leader, Wayne Hodgins, has also signed the motion along with John Hill and Lee Parsons from the Independent group and non-aligned Independent councillor George Humphreys. NHS bosses took months to meet over GP firm complaints Private sector can ease pressure on NHS, says GP
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
EHarley Street: Calls for inquiry into GP management 'scandal'
There have been calls for an independent inquiry into the "scandal" surrounding an under-fire GP management staffing and supply concerns at surgeries managed by eHarley Street were revealed by BBC Wales in November, with "potentially catastrophic" shortages and hundreds of thousands of pounds allegedly owed in employee a Blaenau Gwent council meeting on 20 February, councillors from all across the political spectrum will put forward a four-point motion which includes calls for an this month, it was revealed that a GP partnership which used the services of England-based management company eHarley Street had handed back control of several surgeries to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, including practices in Brynmawr and Tredegar. Blaenau Gwent councillors previously said that they wanted to meet health chiefs to discuss issues at the surgeries, including residents struggling to book appointments as well as staff not being paid for their motion said: "The scandal of eHarley Street's involvement in primary care in Blaenau Gwent and beyond reveals how patients, staff, nurses and doctors have been badly let down."The non-payment of staff, tax and pensions contributions and suppliers has had a severe and detrimental impact on local primary care."It continued: "Blaenau Gwent is proud to be birthplace of the NHS and its founder, Aneurin Bevan."It was created based on the collective principle of medical care available to rich and poor alike in accordance with medical need, and no other criteria."It added health inequalities in Blaenau Gwent were "some of the starkest in the UK", with life expectancy below the Welsh average and many people living with poor health and chronic conditions."Primary care plays a vital role in early intervention and keeping people safe and well."The motion said councillors would welcome the resignation of the partnership from all surgeries in Blaenau Gwent for which it holds also urged health minister Jeremy Miles to commission an urgent review into GP contracts in motion is backed by deputy council leader, Helen Cunningham, and her Labour colleagues Peter Baldwin, Sonia Behr, Jules Gardner, Tommy Smith, Jacqueline Thomas, and Lisa opposition Independent group leader, Wayne Hodgins, has also signed the motion along with John Hill and Lee Parsons from the Independent group and non-aligned Independent councillor George Humphreys.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NHS bosses took months to meet over GP firm complaints
NHS officials took months to meet doctors following complaints about surgeries run by GP management company, eHarley Street. The company has been criticised by patients, doctors and the first minister, and is now handing back most of its Welsh practices, which apart from one in Cardiff, are in the Aneurin Bevan health board area. It follows safety, staffing and supply concerns revealed by BBC Wales at the end of last year. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has been asked to comment. Inquiry demand for GPs where patients feel 'unsafe' Angry doctors owed thousands refuse to work FM attacks GP firm allegedly not paying staff Concerns about surgeries in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Newport and Caerphilly county were raised last August. But health board officials only met the GPs responsible in late October, according to an internal health board document seen by BBC Wales. It also shows the health board gave the GPs who also run eHarley Street more public money after concerns were raised. The document states: "In August 2024, concerns were highlighted to the health board by local staff." It goes on to add: "The health board has instigated a period of enhanced monitoring for the GP partnership with bi-weekly meetings. "The focus of these meetings is governance, workforce and finance as well as any specific concerns. "The first of these meetings was held on 28 October 2024". Internal Aneurin Bevan University Health Board documents have been seen by BBC Wales after a freedom of information request to the Welsh government. The documents show the health board blamed social media for the rise in patient concerns. "There have been several social media posts which have encouraged the public to contact the health board to raise concerns, as a result there has been an increased number of concerns for Brynmawr in particular," it said. The internal "Briefing for Chair" document outlines some of the concerns raised, including a lack of clinical cover, a failure to pay locum staff, a failure to pay suppliers and the cleanliness of practice premises. eHarley Street has been approached for comment. In a previous statement, the partners who run the surgeries said they faced "significant financial constraints" but were "committed to addressing these challenges". Senedd members have already called for answers to how the Leicestershire-based private company came to operate within the Welsh NHS. Welsh surgeries managed by eHarley Street: Brynmawr Medical Practice, Blaenau Gwent Blaenavon Medical Practice, Torfaen Pontypool Medical Centre, Torfaen Bryntirion Surgery, Bargoed, Caerphilly Tredegar Medical Practice, Blaenau Gwent Aberbeeg Medical Practice, Blaenau Gwent Gelligaer Surgery, Caerphilly county Lliswerry Medical Centre, Newport The Corporation Road Surgery, Cardiff eHarley Street manages nine surgeries in Wales but is handing back five to the Aneurin Bevan health board. The documents show that when concerns were raised about the practices, "assurances" were given to the health board "by the central operations manager on behalf of the partnership". Each NHS surgery is contracted to individual GPs who have responsibility for that practice. The documents show the health board gave extra public money to the doctors responsible for the surgeries - who are also the bosses of eHarley Street - to pay for locum GPs. "In order to maintain safe levels of clinical cover the health board has agreed financial support for locum reimbursement", the document said. However, some locum GPs are still waiting to be paid months after working in eHarley Street surgeries - some are taking legal action to recover their wages. In December, there were demands for an inquiry into eHarley Street after patients, some with terminal illnesses, said they were having difficulty accessing appointments and treatments. "It frightens me - I don't feel safe," said Katrina Hughes, 69, a terminal cancer patient who struggled to get an appointment or see the same doctor at Brynmawr Medical Practice in Blaenau Gwent. "There's no continuity of care at all." She was among around 100 people who attended a public meeting to discuss services at the practice - many said they struggled to get appointments or were waiting for medication and test results.
