West Yorkshire ICB has been notified of a potential change of control of Operose Health Ltd.
The Operose Health Group is involved in providing general practice care to patients across England, including in Leeds.
Whilst no change has taken place yet we would like to explain the steps we will be taking to ensure that the proposed change will not adversely affect the GP practices or their patients.
What is happening?
The Operose Health Group is involved in providing services at the following practices in Leeds:
Lincoln Green Medical Centre, also known as The Practice Lincoln Green, Burmantofts Health Centre, Cromwell Mount Leeds LS9 7TA
- The contractor is Chilvers & McCrea Limited
- The type of contract held is a Personal Medical Service (PMS)
Harehills Corner Surgery, also known as The Practice Harehills Corner, 209 Roundhay Rd, Harehills, Leeds LS8 4HQ
- The contractor is Chilvers & McCrea Limited
- The type of contract held is a Personal Medical Service (PMS)
Operose Health recently wrote to us to notify the ICB of a change of control of Operose Health Ltd.
Operose Health have informed us that:
- The change of control arises as a result of a proposed change in ownership of Operose Health Ltd.
- It is intended that the ownership of Operose Health Ltd will transfer from the current owner, MH Services International (UK) Ltd, to “T20 Osprey Midco Limited (“HCRG Care Group”)”.
What it means for patients
All GP practices work under contract to the NHS and whether owned by GPs or other organisations they must be able to meet strict standards and regulations that apply to all NHS providers.
As previously, the contract will continue to be held by Chilvers & McCrea Limited and they will continue to be responsible for providing the primary care services. We will be seeking assurance that patients will be able to continue to access the same services from the same locations as they do now.
If there is a change of control, please be assured that there will be no change to:
- the legal entity holding the contracts Chilvers & McCrea Limited
- the contracts themselves;
- the services Chilvers & McCrea Limited are required to provide, including locations, opening hours and service standards (including in respect of access and staffing).
Our responsibilities
As a commissioner of health services, it is West Yorkshire ICB’s role to ensure the provision of high quality, safe services for local people. In addition, all health service providers are regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission to ensure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety.
Operose Health have informed us that, while Chilvers & McCrea Limited sits within the wider Operose Health Group and is under the operational management of Operose Health Ltd, Chilvers & McCrea Limited itself is not undergoing a change of control because it is wholly owned by a medical practitioner and has no corporate holding company.
West Yorkshire ICB will now carry out a due diligence process to check that the proposed new owner of Operose Health Ltd is of good standing. We will also seek assurance that the change of control would not affect service provision and that patients would not see any difference in their GP practice, so that patients will still access care in the same way and continue to see the same practice teams.
Next steps
We will take steps to let relevant practice patients know about the change of control and answer the questions that they have.
As we move forward, we will seek to keep you advised as to what is happening.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please come back to us by emailing wyicb-leeds.