Three Wrexham GP surgeries run by health board to be handed over to community interest company

Three Wrexham GP surgeries currently managed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are to be handed over to a community interest company (CIC).

The health board has confirmed that the contract for Hillcrest practice, Forge Road and Borras Park has been awarded to Dr Karen Sankey and Dr Gayle Knights of the community interest company (CIC), the Community Care Collaborative.

Back in January 2019 at a meeting between health board representatives and members of the council’s safeguarding communities and wellbeing scrutiny committee it was explained that talks about transferring the three surgeries over to a CIC were underway.

At the time it was explained that a CIC is a non for profit organisation, but has ability to access funding which otherwise would not be available to normal GMS (General Medical Services) practices.

The three surgeries have been under the management of Betsi Cadwaladr since 2017 either due to GPs retiring from or terminating their GMS contracts with the health board.

Over the next few months ownership of the three practices will be transferred to the Community Care Collaborative, starting with Hillcrest in July.

This will be followed by Forge Road in September and Borras Park in November.

Patients registered at these practices do not need to take any action.

The health board will be working with the Dr Sankey and Dr Knights to complete the contractual arrangements over the coming months.

East Area Director for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Rob Smith said: “We are delighted that we have been able to award the GMS contracts to Dr Karen Sankey and Dr Gayle Knight for three of our Wrexham practices.

“We look forward to working them over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition and supporting them in the future. Their new model of delivering care to patients is such an exciting development in healthcare in Wrexham.”

The Community Care Collaborative is also known locally for its “innovative and person-centred support to Wrexham’s homeless”.

Earlier this year the CIC was awarded £88,000 to continue providing support for rough sleepers.

Dr Karen Sankey said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity.

“Our vision is to work collaboratively with agencies, voluntary and community groups and patients themselves to deliver a model of primary care that provides for the social, emotional and medical care of patients at the point of need.

“We will build on the best of General Practice enhanced by new and innovative ways of working.

“We will focus on early intervention and preventative work and identifying and meeting the needs of vulnerable and socially isolated groups.”