Latest news with #Shropdoc


BBC News
02-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Panel backs decision over Shropshire out-of-hours GP service
An independent panel has backed a decision to select a different company for a proposed contract for a Shropshire out-of-hours GP a not-for-profit company staffed by local doctors, has run the service since 1996. But in February, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (NHS STW) said approval was granted for intending to award the contract to Wiltshire-based representations by Shropdoc, the panel stated it found STW integrated care board (ICB) acted in accordance with regulations and so it had advised it to proceed with the proposed contract said due to the "legal standstill period" in place, it was unable to comment. Healthcare campaigner Gill George from Shropshire Defend Our NHS said she was devastated and thought most people in the region would be."They know local services like the back of their hand – Shropdoc has got that local knowledge and local expertise of GPs and community services."The contract had an initial term of three years starting on Tuesday this week, with the option of a two-year extension and an estimated value, including the extension, of about £36m excluding VAT, the panel ICB had six bids, according to Tuesday's report from the independent patient choice and procurement panel's review of the proposed award. Nearly 600 surveys The document said that in February the board announced the successful bidder. Shropdoc's proposal was ranked fifth, with a score of 68.52%, compared to 86.85% for Medvivo, the report STW launched a scheme in August last year that saw residents share views and said nearly 600 surveys were completed. If a GP out-of-hours service contract was awarded to a new provider, NHS STW has stated, one of its priorities would be to ensure as little change to patients as would be no change to its palliative care line and home visits would still be available, it stated it acknowledged the "outcome of the procurement process and the associated report relating to the GP Out of Hours (GPOOH) service have now been published".Medvivo is based in the south-west of England, according to its website, and in 2020 joined HealthHero to become the group's NHS service specialises in integrated urgent care and associated services. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.


BBC News
26-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Shropshire out-of-hours GP plan faces independent review
A decision to appoint a new provider for out-of-hours GP cover in Shropshire has gone to an independent panel for service had been operated by Shropdoc, a co-operative of local GPs, since 1996, but commissioners at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin announced they intended to switch to Wiltshire-based commissioning body said it came to the decision after a "robust, transparent and fair commissioning process".The NHS England Independent Patient Choice and Procurement Panel is expected to offer advice before NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin makes a final decision. Documents were sent to the review body earlier this month and NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin said it would fully comply with any requests or recommendations made by the had been raised about the future of the service if it changed hands, but a spokesperson for the board said: "It will continue to be a locally provided service, staffed by local clinicians, with face-to-face appointments forming a core element and remaining available at the out-of-hours bases and via home visits."The commissioning body also said that a decision to award the contract to Medvivo would not be a cost cutting measure. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New out-of-hours GP contract to be reviewed
The decision to award the contract for Shropshire's out-of-hours GP service to a new company will be reviewed by an independent panel, NHS officials say. It comes after NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (NHS STW) confirmed it had removed the contract from Shropdoc, a not-for-profit organiser that currently provides the service. NHS chiefs said they had undertaken a "robust, transparent and fair commissioning process", but had now extended a consultation period for further submissions to be made before the review takes place. Dr Rob Park, one of the founders of Shropdoc, said the trust's original consultation had been "minimal" and he feared the new service would not be as good. NHS STW confirmed the contract was initially awarded to Wiltshire-based Medvivo - which as been contacted for comment - on 5 February. The trust then entered a standstill period - the time between a contract being awarded and then signed - which has been extended to allow for any further written submissions to be made. After the period ends, the trust has confirmed it would then consider the representations and then review the decision through the independent panel. Speaking after the announcement of the contract, Dr Park said Medvivo was part of a venture capital company. "They seemingly are going to provide the service for less," he said. Meanwhile, Lib Dem Bernie Bentick, shadow portfolio holder for public health at Shropshire Council, said the overall impetus for the move seemed to be to cut costs. He said he believed the value of the current Shropdoc contract was in excess of £10m per year. Under the proposed new contract, the GP side of the operation was worth £6m a year. A spokesperson for the trust said: "The service specification remains unchanged, and the re-procurement is not a cost-cutting measure. "It will continue to be a locally provided service, staffed by local clinicians, with face-to-face appointments forming a core element and remaining available at the out of hours bases and via home visits." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Questions raised over out-of-hours GP contract Out-of-hours GP service provider 'approved' Shropdoc NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin


BBC News
17-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Independent panel to review Shropshire out-of-hours GP contract
The decision to award the contract for Shropshire's out-of-hours GP service to a new company will be reviewed by an independent panel, NHS officials comes after NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (NHS STW) confirmed it had removed the contract from Shropdoc, a not-for-profit organiser that currently provides the service. NHS chiefs said they had undertaken a "robust, transparent and fair commissioning process", but had now extended a consultation period for further submissions to be made before the review takes Rob Park, one of the founders of Shropdoc, said the trust's original consultation had been "minimal" and he feared the new service would not be as good. NHS STW confirmed the contract was initially awarded to Wiltshire-based Medvivo - which as been contacted for comment - on 5 February. The trust then entered a standstill period - the time between a contract being awarded and then signed - which has been extended to allow for any further written submissions to be made. After the period ends, the trust has confirmed it would then consider the representations and then review the decision through the independent panel. 'Not a cost-cutting measure' Speaking after the announcement of the contract, Dr Park said Medvivo was part of a venture capital company."They seemingly are going to provide the service for less," he Lib Dem Bernie Bentick, shadow portfolio holder for public health at Shropshire Council, said the overall impetus for the move seemed to be to cut said he believed the value of the current Shropdoc contract was in excess of £10m per the proposed new contract, the GP side of the operation was worth £6m a year.A spokesperson for the trust said: "The service specification remains unchanged, and the re-procurement is not a cost-cutting measure. "It will continue to be a locally provided service, staffed by local clinicians, with face-to-face appointments forming a core element and remaining available at the out of hours bases and via home visits." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Questions raised over out-of-hours GP contract
The decision to award the contract for Shropshire's out-of-hours GP service to a new company has been questioned by one of the original founders of Shropdoc, which currently provides the service. Dr Rob Park claimed the consultation carried out by NHS Shropshire Telford and Wrekin had been "minimal" and he feared the new service would not be as good. Shropshire Lib Dem councillor Bernie Bentick, shadow portfolio holder for public health, said the overall impetus for the move seemed to be to cut costs. NHS chiefs said they had undertaken a "robust, transparent and fair commissioning process". NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (NHS STW) has said the procurement process was still ongoing, but approval had been granted for the "intent to award" the contract to Wiltshire-based Medvivo. The BBC has approached Medvivo for comment. Dr Park said Medvivo was part of a venture capital company and said: "They seemingly are going to provide the service for less." He said not-for-profit Shropdoc was formed in 1996 and had been a success ever since. "I don't know much about the workings of modern Shropdoc but I do know they have boots on the ground and there's general satisfaction," he said. "The only way you can cut the service is by using Zoom-type consultations, using paramedics, and really cutting down on the number of doctors you have." Bentick said he believed the value of the current Shropdoc contract was in excess of £10m per year. Under the proposed contract, the GP side of the operation was worth £6m a year. "Many people in Shropshire are absolutely outraged at the move to stop local GPs seeing local people in the Shropdoc service. "This service has run for over 20 years and has provided an excellent quality service," he said. He wants the procurement process to pause. An NHS statement said: "We have undertaken a robust, transparent and fair commissioning process since August 2024." It added the NHS had collected a wide range of patient feedback to help understand views. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Out-of-hours GP service provider 'approved' Shropdoc NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin