FM attacks GP firm allegedly not paying staff

First Minister Eluned Morgan says she is "deeply concerned" about a firm which manages GP surgeries which is alleged to be leaving staff unpaid.

The Senedd heard on Tuesday that patients are struggling to get appointments in surgeries managed by eHarley Street.

Morgan said "this kind of behaviour is not good enough", threatening consequences if the situation does not improve.

Lawyers representing the company said it was "actively addressing the concerns raised".

In November BBC Wales revealed complaints, denied by the company, about safety and staffing at Welsh surgeries managed by eHarley Street.

There are calls for an inquiry the company, which the Senedd heard manages surgeries in Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Newport and Torfaen remotely from England.

Speaking in the Senedd on Tuesday, Hefin David, Caerphilly Labour Member of the Senedd (MS), said patients "have noted a deterioration in services they took over - staff, including GPs, have not been paid on time".

He said Aneurin Bevan health board had not given convincing answers about the matter.

Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales East, Delyth Jewell, was worried the model "could represent privatisation of GP surgeries by the back door".

Alun Davies, Blaenau Gwent Labour MS, said: "The failure of eHarley Street is a disgrace

"My constituents and other people's constituents are finding that they're not only unable to access basic primary care services, but we're in a situation where doctors and suppliers remain unpaid and where staff are being bullied.

"We don't want an inquiry, we want action."

'Lack of respect'

Morgan said "several" MSs had raised the issue with her and it was something "we should be deeply concerned about".

Jeremy Miles, the health secretary, had discussed the matter with the health board and is due to meet its chair next week, she said.

"We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and a lack of respect for the contract that has been signed," she said.

Morgan said she was not happy with GP surgeries "effectively run at a distance".

She said the health board was providing support "during a transition period" and she expected "there to be a consequence" if things did not improve.

She added: "We do often find it difficult to recruit to some of these areas, so I think we've got to be realistic about who is willing to take on these practices, but in many health boards what happens is that the health boards take over the management and they employ GPs directly.

"So there are alternative models that perhaps should be explored if this one doesn't sort itself out."

In a statement, eHarley Street's solicitors, Green & Olive, said: "Our clients have advised that the partnership is in regular contact with the Aneurin Bevan health board and is actively addressing the concerns raised by the Senedd.

"Our clients' focus remains on finding solutions that are amicable and satisfactory for all stakeholders."

While managed by eHarley Street, it and the local health board said the company does not hold the contracts for the surgeries, which are instead held by individual GPs.

The solicitors added that the partners on the contracts "would very much welcome a meeting with the first minister or any of the Senedd members to discuss any concerns they may have".

In previous statements the partners who run the surgeries and the company said they were offering "on average, one session of clinician time per 200 patients", which was the "agreed level of clinical cover".

They said they faced "significant financial constraints".

Last year they accused locum agencies of "driving up prices to unsustainable levels" in Wales, but said there was a plan "to ensure all overdue payments are made in full".

They said they had invested £383,000 in the Welsh practices but still faced "eye-watering losses".