Temporary contract awarded to secure care of patients in Amman Valley
A temporary contract to ensure people in the Amman Valley continue to receive general medical services has been awarded by the Hywel Dda University Health Board.
The ‘like for like’ temporary service from the existing premises in Garnant, Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Brynaman will ensure continuity for patients registered with the practice.
Hywel Dda University Health Board awarded the temporary contract to a newly formed partnership of three local GPs – Dr Duncan Williams and Dr Andy Watkin, both with more than 20 years of service in the Amman Valley, and Dr Alan Stevenson, with similar length of service in a neighbouring practice.
The ‘like for like’ temporary service from the existing premises in Garnant, Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Brynaman will ensure continuity for patients registered with the practice.
Hywel Dda University Health Board awarded the temporary contract to a newly formed partnership of three local GPs – Dr Duncan Williams and Dr Andy Watkin, both with more than 20 years of service in the Amman Valley, and Dr Alan Stevenson, with similar length of service in a neighbouring practice.
Their bid demonstrated that they can meet the health needs of the local community and have robust plans to develop new services in the longer term.
The process was supported by the Community Health Council (CHC) and Local Medical Committee (LMC).
Dr Watkin said: “We are delighted to be awarded this temporary contract and would like to thank all the patients for their support and understanding through what has been a difficult time in the Practice’s evolution. Our focus now is on building a strong and resilient service for our valley’s communities and we welcome Dr Stevenson who will bring a wealth experience to the team at a time when GP recruitment is very difficult.”
Assistant Director of Primary Care Elaine Lorton said: “This temporary contract ensures the service is protected whilst we now embark on a consultation process and tender for permanent provision of general medical services in this area.
“We have written to every household where there is a registered patient to explain what is happening and we will give them a range of opportunities to feedback to ourselves. This will include traditional mechanisms such as writing to us, as well as an online survey and drop-in events in the community. We are also involving community representatives such as the CHC and local politicians.”
The permanent contract will need to demonstrate a clear vision for the future whereby the local community can be assured of safe, high quality and integrated services. This is in line with the University Health Board’s aim to provide more care in the community closer to people’s homes.
The temporary contract has been awarded for up to nine months to provide ample time to undertake consultation and the tender process. The period is reversible and the University Health Board hopes to undertake the process within a shorter time scale in order to provide a permanent solution for the local population.
Notes to editors:
• The University Health Board was legally required to put in place contractual arrangements for GMS services following a decision by the former GP partnership to dissolve
• A temporary contract was sought in order to provide continuity of care within a short time scale
• The University Health Board received two bids for the temporary contract, which were each scored against criteria by the panel, which included representation from the LMC and CHC
• One of the bids proposed a model for the “like for like” service and the other proposal only offered services for half the population.
Dr Watkin said: “We are delighted to be awarded this temporary contract and would like to thank all the patients for their support and understanding through what has been a difficult time in the Practice’s evolution. Our focus now is on building a strong and resilient service for our valley’s communities and we welcome Dr Stevenson who will bring a wealth experience to the team at a time when GP recruitment is very difficult.”
Assistant Director of Primary Care Elaine Lorton said: “This temporary contract ensures the service is protected whilst we now embark on a consultation process and tender for permanent provision of general medical services in this area.
“We have written to every household where there is a registered patient to explain what is happening and we will give them a range of opportunities to feedback to ourselves. This will include traditional mechanisms such as writing to us, as well as an online survey and drop-in events in the community. We are also involving community representatives such as the CHC and local politicians.”
The permanent contract will need to demonstrate a clear vision for the future whereby the local community can be assured of safe, high quality and integrated services. This is in line with the University Health Board’s aim to provide more care in the community closer to people’s homes.
The temporary contract has been awarded for up to nine months to provide ample time to undertake consultation and the tender process. The period is reversible and the University Health Board hopes to undertake the process within a shorter time scale in order to provide a permanent solution for the local population.
Notes to editors:
• The University Health Board was legally required to put in place contractual arrangements for GMS services following a decision by the former GP partnership to dissolve
• A temporary contract was sought in order to provide continuity of care within a short time scale
• The University Health Board received two bids for the temporary contract, which were each scored against criteria by the panel, which included representation from the LMC and CHC
• One of the bids proposed a model for the “like for like” service and the other proposal only offered services for half the population.
Comments