Vitality Partnership
The Vitality Partnership is a large provider of GP services formed in 2009. It operates in operates in 13 different locations in Sandwell and Birmingham and has 250 staff and more than 65,000 patients. Not to be confused with the South African and U.K. health insurance firm of the same name.
It claims to be a "super partnership".[1]
The partnership is given a favourable mention in the NHS Five Year Forward View. It already conducts 75 per cent of consultations remotely using phone or Skype. Patients have an electronic care plan they can manage themselves, and digital access to consultant advice.[2]
Sarb Basi, the managing director, said in response to the NHS Five Year Forward View that it would be a “natural, logical progression” to manage capitated budgets for health and social care budgets through an integrated care organisation, building a "coherent strategic partnership" with an acute hospital and working with Community health NHS trusts to incorporate nursing and therapy services.[3] This appeared to connect with comments made by Simon Stevens to the House of Commons health select committee in October 2014 that he envisaged in Birmingham two large groupings of GPs - the Vitality Partnership and another which would employ geriatricians.[4]
It is suggested that under Stevens' plan large primary care organisations like Vitality could be in a position to challenge the dominance of NHS hospital trusts [5]
References
- ↑ "Innovation in general practice: The Vitality Super-Partnership under the microscope". Nuffield Trust. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ↑ Vickers, Robin (3 December 2014). "Building future NHS organisations starts with citizens". Health Service Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ↑ "Birmingham health leaders back forward view care models". Health Service Journal. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ↑ "Where do GPs fit into NHS England's plans?". GP. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ↑ "The future begins in Stevenstown". Local Government Chronicle. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.