|
|
|
GPs get the boot as private sector steps in
Primary care firm Harmoni will take over an out-of-hours contract in Islington after GP-led Camidoc was absolved of its duties because of financial mismanagement.
In a leaked memo to staff, Camidoc’s interim chief executive James Hood revealed the news saying the ‘loss of confidence in Camidoc’ was purely down to its finances, not quality or safety of services.
Harmoni, based in Hertfordshire, will now run the service on a nine-month temporary contract from October 1 2010 awarded jointly by four north London Primary Care Trusts: Camden, Haringey, Hackney and Islington. The PCTs said that Harmoni has been contracted to provide services ‘on a temporary basis only’ and that procurement of out-of-hours services in the longer-term will be led by local GP consortia.
A spokesperson for Harmoni told HMN: ‘We were asked by the group of trusts to step in for nine months and we did just that. We can’t provide any further details of the contract at the moment.’
The trusts said in a statement that ‘to enter into a new three-year contract with Camidoc in its current financial state was not an option that could be pursued.’ They added: ‘As an interim, emergency measure an alternative provider was sought that could ‘step-in’ until a new procurement process could be completed. The emergency nature of that arrangement meant that public consultation could not be undertaken, although we have kept local clinical leaders informed throughout and will continue to work with them on the transfer of services to the new provider.’
The trusts then went on to slam local media for suggesting that Harmoni’s anointment was driven by a ‘privatisation agenda’, saying that the decision was based on ensuring the continuity of a ‘safe and viable’ service.
<<Back
You
must be an HMN
subscriber to access all articles including
our extensive archive.
Subscribe
|
|
|
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010
