NHS Birmingham and Solihull (the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board) has issued an update on the change of control at AT Medics Ltd which owns Kingshurst Medical Practice.
AT Medics Ltd holds Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contracts with the NHS; APMS are one route to providing general practice services. AT Medics Ltd is owned by Operose Health Ltd.
When control of a company holding a contract like this changes hands, the NHS must give prior authorisation. In the case of Operose Health Ltd., a request was made in November 2023 for control to change from MH Services International (UK) Ltd, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, to T20 Osprey Midco Ltd.
Following this, the companies involved stated that this change had not actually taken place, and this was communicated to patients. However, it has come to light that a change of control did in fact take place on 28 December 2023. The NHS was not told about this until 14 March 2024. In light of this new information the NHS is now considering its next steps.
We would like to reassure patients that there will be no change to the company holding the APMS contracts (AT Medics Ltd), the contracts themselves or the services provided, including locations, opening hours and service standards. This has been reconfirmed at meetings between AT Medics and the NHS since 15 March.
All practices work under contract to the NHS and must be able to meet strict standards and regulations that apply to all NHS providers. This is true whether a practice is owned by a GP or a company. This change of control does not impact patient access to current general practice services and our focus will continue to be on ensuring that patients in Kingshurst, and across Birmingham and Solihull, have access to high quality GP care.
The NHS will also continue its due diligence process to ensure the NHS has all the information needed on the companies involved.