Succession planning
.jpg?width=1078&height=1073&name=Professor%20Nick%20Harding%20OBE%20-%20Chief%20Medical%20Officer%20(CMO).jpg "Professor Nick Harding OBE - Chief Medical Officer (CMO)")
Being a great GP is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, but our role is becoming increasingly challenging on many fronts. We face more complex patient health issues, evolving medical treatments and increasingly burdensome practice management which can divert us from delivering patient care. From conversations I have every day with fellow GPs, it's clear we are all feeling these pressures.
The current business ownership model, once supportive, now struggles to meet rising patient demand and financial pressures. GPs are finding it harder to balance patient care with administrative duties, leading to concerns about maintaining quality care and practice viability.
With Operose Health you can secure your practice’s future, ensure continuity for your patients and staff and refocus your time back to patient care.
Professor Nick Harding OBE
Chief Medical Officer at Operose Health
The Operose Health offer
Centralised functions
With central teams such as governance, recruitment, property and IT, practices are able to tap into unparalleled expertise, while reducing the administrative burden at a practice level.
Local support
With Regional Medical Directors and Operations Leads we support the practice team to find innovative ways to help manage administrative burdens and demand. Our analytics and insights capabilities enable effective local programmes e.g. tackling health inequalities.
Innovation & investment
Our scale enables more investment in our people, providing more career opportunities across the group. We are also able to effectively support adoption of innovation, from practice analytics to digital patient tools.
Joining the family – our Basingstoke practice
Dr Anna Reed: GP Partner perspective
Dr Anna Reed joined CGH as a GP Partner in 2014 and played a central role in the integration with Operose Health. Anna continues her role at CGH and is also now the Regional Medical Director for Hampshire.
Why did CGH decide to join Operose Health?
All the partners at CGH were aware of upcoming retirements and we were struggling to recruit. This made the sustainability of CGH a very real and pressing risk, with possible redundancies for our team and our patients losing their GP practice, causing huge worry for them and significant pressure on neighbouring practices.
Looking for workable options, we came across Operose Health. After initial discussions with their Chief Medical Officer Professor Nick Harding and the business development team, we quickly realised we shared a similar ethos in the way we care for our patients and staff.
What were the main challenges of joining?
Looking back now, the challenges we faced were definitely outweighed by what we achieved in a small amount of time. One major challenge was the level of due diligence and background legal work. This was significant and took a lot of input from the CGH leadership team, as did merging and adapting processes and regular staff engagement. I know our experience has helped refine our merger process, so it is now as robust, but quicker for all parties.
In the first year, what were the highlights or gains from integration?
The immediate highlight that springs to mind is that we were continuing to look after our patients, which meant such a lot to the CGH team. In terms of other benefits, I would pull out the significant amount
of dedicated support we have received, especially governance-related, for our CQC inspection and the ongoing expert assistance with managing finances. The planned renovations at our Essex House site also
wouldn’t have happened if CGH hadn’t partnered with Operose Health. We’ve also had practical help with day-to-day workloads, for example advertising and hiring for new roles as well as processing all the time-consuming paperwork and checks required. Our staff have also been able to access greater learning and development opportunities as part of the group, clinical and non-clinical roles.
What do you see next for CGH as part of Operose Health?
We have introduced a new telephone system, and are rolling out Operose Health’s tried and tested Dr. iQ app this year to improve access to our practices. Both of these improvements will help reduce call waiting times, which we know is so important to our patients.
Using Operose Health’s experience of quality improvement, supported by in-house data and population health tools like EZ Analytics, is helping consistently raise our performance and outcomes. We have also had support from the central Business Development team in establishing a new vasectomy service. All of this has given us, and the local system, the confidence to expand the number of sites we have.
As part of Basingstoke’s health and care system, the CGH team would really like to collaborate more with local trusts, especially with mental health support. We also aim to be more learning disability friendly.
Giving back to the community is also really important for us, so we are aiming to create a charity and social committee to support our local communities. Being part of a wider family gives us the added resources, support and capacity to go above and beyond for the communities we serve.
A long-term solution for your property
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of merging with Operose Health?
Operose Health, the UK's largest primary healthcare provider, serves over 640,000 patients across 60 sites. We facilitate a seamless transition for General Practice partners into salaried GP roles, alleviating practice management stresses. Our experienced team offers comprehensive support in HR, IT, recruitment, and more, ensuring operational continuity. Leveraging our scale, practices gain access to regional support for administrative and clinical needs. We implement industry-leading processes to enhance clinical governance, QOF, and CQC performance, tailored to each practice. Our advanced software streamlines practice operations, reducing non-clinical workload. We prioritize uninterrupted primary care delivery during and after mergers.
What experience does Operose Health have in merging with GP practices?
We have dedicated teams of experts who ensure a smooth transition into our organization for you and your practice. With our refined integration process and extensive experience, we're adept at identifying and addressing potential challenges, making the transition to a salaried GP role as seamless as possible. Given our expertise in GMS/PMS/APMS mergers, we understand the unique nature of each practice and are prepared to adapt our approach accordingly. We recognize the process may seem daunting, but we're committed to providing support and maintaining high standards throughout. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us for further assistance.
What is the basic process followed when going through a merger?
Operose Health's extensive experience in primary care mergers ensures a smooth transition through four distinct phases:
1. Introductory Phase: Initial calls with practice partners to understand their motivations for merger. A site visit may occur for a first-hand assessment. Both parties sign an NDA for confidentiality.
2. Analysis Phase: Initial analysis of the practice's performance establishes a baseline. Negotiation of Heads of Terms outlines the merger plan. Consideration of 3rd party property investors may occur.
3. Due Diligence Phase: In-depth analysis of the practice, including partner salary discussions, legal enquiries and site visits. Integration teams engage in mapping out clinical governance and operations. This culminates in signing the Business Transfer Agreement.
4. Integration Phase: The practice integrates with Operose Health teams nationwide. A 'First 100 Days' plan ensures seamless integration, addressing minor changes identified during due diligence. Consistency for staff and continuity of care for patients remain top priorities throughout the process.
What will happen to my staff after a merger with Operose Health?
Operose Health prioritizes retaining all existing staff and maintaining continuity of service for patients during practice mergers. We ensure minimal disruption to the practice's operation and offer staff the same contracts they currently hold. In many cases, staff may see an increase in salary, as rates are aligned with Operose Health's standard hourly rates. We guarantee that no staff will face a salary reduction post-merger. Redundancy is only ever a last resort, and we undertake a full consultation process before considering it. We actively seek alternative solutions, such as role changes, to accommodate every team member.
I want a merger with Operose Health completed as soon as possible, how quickly can it be done?
We understand that GP Partners may require a quick merger process to meet their needs. However, due to various external factors including governing bodies, legal enquiries, premises negotiations, and clinical governance queries, committing to a specific timeframe for completion is challenging.
While we do not guarantee a completion date, we are transparent on progress and blockers throughout the process. The timeline can be expedited with mutual engagement and responsiveness during due diligence, contract review, and practice analysis. If time is a concern, we can accommodate deadlines within our process.
What impact will merging with Operose Health have on the quality of care for my patients?
Operose Health places a primary focus on ensuring continuity of care for patients' post-merger. One way we achieve this is by offering the option to retain the entire workforce in their current roles. We enact a 'First 100 Days' plan to gradually integrate new ways of working into the practice while providing hands-on support to minimize disruptions.
Our long-term goal includes introducing modern software and processes to enhance efficiencies and patient satisfaction.
Where practices already have robust operating models, our enhancements will be more light touch and patients will see no material change to their care.