Out-of-hours GP service provider 'approved'

Shropdoc currently provides services outside of GP hours

The provider of an out-of-hours GP service that provides urgent medical care and NHS 111 could lose its contract.

Shropdoc has been running the service in Shropshire since 1996.

NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (NHS STW) confirmed this week that approval had been granted for the "intent to award" the contract to Medvivo.

However, it added that due to it still being within the "procurement process", it could not officially confirm Medvivo as the new provider, only that it intended to award the contract.

The contract would be for a period of up to five years.

In August 2024, NHS STW launched a county-wide scheme that saw residents share their views on the service and give feedback on how improvements could be made.

It said almost 600 surveys were completed and a focus group was set up to explore the feedback in more detail.

The organisation added that if a GP out-of-hours service contract was awarded to a new provider, one of its priorities would be to ensure as little impact and change to patients as possible.

It added that there would be no change to its palliative care line, and home visits would continue to be available should a change in provider occur.

Medvivo is based in the south-west of England, according to its website, and in 2020 joined HealthHero to become the group's NHS service provider.

It specialises in integrated urgent care and associated services.