11 December 2007
Assura Medical is continuing to support GPs and locality groups in becoming effective provider organisations delivering high quality out-patient and diagnostic services in the community and closer to where patients live.
Assura Medical does this by establishing locally situated, patient focused organisations known as GP Provider Companies (GPCos), which enable GPs to become shareholders in their own local provider groups. Each GPCo is supported in bidding for and providing all forms of primary care services, outside of core GMS or PMS services.
This model of care is now beginning to deliver, with NHS out-patient services under way in Bath & North East Somerset, Liverpool and Macclesfield, with many other services being bid for or planned within the existing eight joint ventures and with other GP partners and locality groups elsewhere. Assura is in partnership with GPs serving an estimated 1m patients, a figure set to rise to over 1.5m by the end of the year.
This has been helped in no short measure by the positive effects beginning to be felt following the Strategic Health Authority and PCT reorganisations which took place last year. As PCTs begin to embrace the Any Willing Provider (AWP) guidance, the processes for implementing and monitoring contracts have been established, allowing contracts to be awarded more quickly.
Assura Medical GPCos seek to achieve Any Willing Provider status and have done so for dermatology and urology. Some GPs are keen to regain control of Out-of-Hours Care and Assura Medical and the GPCos can enable this.
To help get a GPCo started, Assura Medical provides both start-up and ongoing working capital. By giving GPCos all of the tools required to become highly effective providers of consultant-led services in the community, GPs can take control of the services in their area. This allows GPs to help manage their local health economy and develop an extra income stream while protecting their core business.
With the involvement of a national partner like Assura Medical and with the backup of finance, health informatics and business administration, quicker and more successful implementation and delivery is now being achieved.
ENDS
Press enquiries regarding Assura Group and Assura Medical to:
Andrew McKeon, AJM Public Relations.
Tel: 01423 734 560; Mobile: 07802 484 155
Louise Bathersby, Assura Group.
Tel: 020 7107 3830
This story was also featured in issue six of our newsletter Practice Matters.
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