AN AMERICAN-owned company that took over a Basingstoke GP surgery in 2021 has handed the contract to another provider exactly a year later.

Operose Health took over Shakespeare Road Medical Practice on December 1, 2021, in a controversial move after another planned takeover by a Basingstoke-based partnership fell through because of recruitment issues, among other reasons.

Now, exactly a year later, the GP surgery, which cares for 13,500 patients in the town, has been taken over again by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust in collaboration with Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT), Solent NHS Trust and North Hampshire Urgent Care (NHUC).

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, which is one of the largest healthcare providers in the UK, had its CQC rating dropped earlier this year from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’ following an inspection in October and November 2021.

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Dr Robin Harlow, clinical director for primary care development at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, has written to patients at Shakespeare Road Medical Centre to inform them of the takeover starting on December 1.

He said: “This development is an exciting opportunity. The collaborative approach being delivered at the practice will hopefully have a significant impact with each provider bringing their expertise, resources and experience to the practice, ensuring patients get the highest the quality services.”

Dr Harlow reassured patients that the practice will remain open, adding: “You will continue to be able access appointments and healthcare services at the Shakespeare Road site.

“Responsibility for your care will transfer automatically to Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice on 1 December 2022. This will include the secure transfer of your electronic care records. You do not need to do anything.”

He said the action had been taken to “ensure continuity of care”.

The trust and its partners are planning to hold open days at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice for patients to meet the new providers and staff.

Operose said it was asked to temporarily run the practice for up to a year to support the NHS while a more permanent solution was found. 

Dr Steve Tomkins, Chief Medical Officer at Southern Health said: “We are really looking forward to working with staff at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice and supporting them in the coming weeks. The practice will be run as part of an innovative collaboration between Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Solent NHS Trust, Hampshire Hospitals and North Hampshire Urgent Care and we are really excited by the benefits to patients this can have. As a GP I know what a challenging time for primary care this is and that there are no easy fixes. However, the trust is committed to supporting the Practice and the communities it serves.”

Operose is responsible for the care of around 63,000 patients at GP surgeries in Basingstoke after taking over various practices in the town including The Camrose, Gillies and Hackwood (CGH) Partnership.

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It hit the headlines nationally in June after featuring on an episode of Panorama which claimed Operose had reduced its number of GPs by more than 50 per cent at CGH since it took over the surgery in 2020.

However, Operose described the BBC investigation into its practices as “deeply disappointing” and claimed the issues highlighted were “not unique to us, but common across primary care in this country”.

Dr Anna Reed, local GP and regional medical director for Operose Health said: “It has been a pleasure and privilege to have had this opportunity to support the practice and local community.

“I am pleased that we have improved patient care and access over the last year. I would like to thank each and every one of the team at the practice for their commitment and hard work in providing high quality care for Shakespeare Road’s patients.”