I co-organised this first London conference on health co-operatives, along with Mo Girach.

1. HEALTH CO-OPERATIVES:
An international perspective...
... lessons for UK healthcare?
A one day conference
Thursday 10th February 2005
One Great George Street [off Parliament Square]
Westminster
London SW1P 3AA
United Kingdom

2. o-operatives exist in all and credit unions, to housing Members get together in
C walks of life worldwide.
In the United Kingdom they
and healthcare. small groups in pursuit of
health-related activities,
are best known in the "Co-operatives in their including both positive
retailing sector - with various forms are becoming health and treatment. In the
thousands of CO-OP shops an indispensable factor in United States of America,
run by co-operative societies the economic and social Group Health Cooperative
up and down the land. The development of all in Seattle was set up in 1947
largest of these societies - countries." to deliver a consumer-
"Co-operatives in their the Co-operative Group, United Nations resolution controlled healthcare system.
various forms are which is Europe's biggest 49/155, 1994 It now provides coverage and
becoming an consumer co-operative - also care for over half a million
indispensable factor in runs the largest chain of In Brazil a co-operative run people in Washington State
the economic and social co-operatively owned by about a third of the and Idaho.
development of all pharmacies in the world. country’s doctors provides
countries” healthcare to more than 10
United Nations Around the globe million people. Japan has
resolution 49/155, 1994 co-operatives are active in over two million households
everything from agriculture obtaining healthcare from
to tourism, running banks health co-operatives.
Madrid, Spain Homerton Foundation Hospital, UK Dulwich Hospital, UK
The United Nations Said to be the fastest Health co-operatives around
published a survey in 1997 growing part of the the world are pivotal to
on co-operative health and co-operative movement family healthcare and part of
social care. At that time worldwide, the co-operative the healthcare provision of
Fundación Espriu,
Spain these were known to exist in healthcare sector cares for the local ‘state’ - they will
43 countries. around 100 million families. continue to be successful!
“Mutual models can provide an attractive alternative
to both State and private provision of local services -
devolving ownership and control of services of the
people who care most about them.”
Ruth Kelly MP, then Minister at the Cabinet Office

3. This conference - the first service reform, the British foundation trust sector, plus "NHS Foundation
of its kind to be held in the Government has begun new steps in co-operative Trust are a new type of
UK - will bring together devolving power to frontline and mutual approaches in organisation ... to
practitioners in the health staff and local communities NHS primary, social. There provide NHS services
co-operative sector from in England, in the form of will also be a speaker from for NHS patients.
other countries, side by side National Health Service the Benenden Healthcare NHS Foundation
with speakers from the UK's (NHS) Foundation Trusts, Society, a friendly society Trusts offer a new form
healthcare system. the first 20 of which are now with about a million of social ownership
up and running. More are to members and its own modelled on co-
The event is being led by come. (The very name hospital. The Society has operative and mutual
SELDOC (South East "foundation" is used in part operated since 1905 - having traditions."
London Doctors of the health co-operative not been nationalised along UK Department of
Co-operative) and held in system of Spain, as with most other healthcare Health (DH)
association with the conference participants will providers when the NHS Factsheet, DH website
European region of the hear for themselves.)
International Health
Co-operative Organisation "NHS Foundation Trusts
(IHCO) – a non- are a new type of
governmental organisation organisation ... to provide
that brings health and NHS services for NHS
co-operation together patients. NHS Foundation
globally – supported fully by Trusts offer a new form of
Mutuo and Co-operativesUK. social ownership modelled
There will be overseas on co-operative and mutual
Co-operative healthcare - Canada
speakers from Belgium, traditions."
Canada, Russia, Spain and UK Department of Health was created in 1948.
Sweden who run (DH) Factsheet, DH
co-operative and mutual website The emphasis in this first
hospitals and medical event is to focus mainly on
centres. The conference will give an Europe, but there will be
opportunity to hear the material on the worldwide
In the UK there are general practical experience of people scene, and a preview of some
practice (GP) co-operatives, involved in delivering exciting developments in
and other co-operatives co-operative healthcare. It primary healthcare in
providing social care. Also, as will also highlight early Canada.
part of a process of public developments from the NHS
SELDOC - South East London Doctors Co-operative

4. Conference programme
08:30 Registration and refreshments
SESSION TO BE JOINTLY CHAIRED BY DR ALAN ROGERS - CHAIRMAN &
DR MICHAEL BROOKS - MEDICAL DIRECTOR (SELDOC - SOUTH EAST LONDON
DOCTORS CO-OPERATVE):
09:45 Opening remark from the joint chairs.
THE POLICY CONTEXT:
10:00 Health sector welcome : Minister/senior civil servant
from the Department of Health (DH) - UK invited
10:10 Dame Pauline Green (International Co-operative Alliance European Region,
and Co-operativesUK) - co-operatives in Europe and the world (UK)
10:25 Peter Hunt (Mutuo): healthcare mutual policy developments (UK)
10:50 Geraint Day (IHCO) : development of National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trusts
and link to international health co-operatives (UK)
11:00 REFRESHMENTS BREAK
SESSION TO BE CHAIRED BY DR JOSÉ CARLOS GUISADO DEL TORO -
CHAIRMAN OF IHCO:
THE INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE (1):
11:30 Dr José Carlos Guisado del Toro (IHCO): the work of the IHCO (Spain)
11:50 Per-Olof Jönsson (Medicoop): Swedish health co-operatives (Sweden)
12:10 Valery Shipunov (Medical Centre of Central Soyuz, Russian Federation): Russia
12:30 Jean-Pierre Girard (Conseil Canadien de la Coopération):
Canadian health co-operative experience (Canada)
12:50 Questions and discussion
13.00 LUNCH BREAK

5. SESSION TO BE CHAIRED BY DAME PAULINE GREEN (CO-OPERATIVESUK):
THE INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE (2):
Dr José Carlos Guisado del Toro (Fundación Espriu, Barcelona, and IHCO): 14:00
Spanish health co-operatives (Spain)
Marc-Henri Cornély and William Janssens (Office des Pharmacies coopératives de Belgique: 14:30
Belgian co-operative pharmacies) - Belgium
Questions & discussion 14:50
REFRESHMENTS BREAK 15:15
SESSION TO BE CHAIRED BY BARONESS THORNTON (SOCIAL ENTERPRISE COALITION):
UK DEVELOPMENTS AND PRACTICE:
Cliff Mills (Cobbetts Solicitors) - overview of legal structures of co-operatives (UK) 15:40
Mo Girach (South East London Doctors Co-operative): general medical practice 15:55
(GP) co-operatives (UK)
Pauline Brown (Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust): 16:10
a foundation trust in action (UK)
Paul Tinnion (Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust board of governors): user experience 16:25
Colin Christopher Bennett - Chief Executive, Benenden Healthcare Society: 16:35
a healthcare mutual (UK)
SUMMING UP AND WHERE NEXT:
DH official: Overview of NHS healthcare developments (UK) - invited 16:50
CLOSE 17:00

6. This event is brought to
you by
SELDOC is the GP Out of Hours GP members can be justifiably a number of subsidiary businesses,
Co-operative for Lambeth, proud of their achievements and such as Primary Care Locum
Southwark and Lewisham deliverables. With NHS Direct, Services (GP, Nurses, Social
formed in April 1996. Technical Links, Walk-in Centres, Workers, Etc), Travel Clinic, Bulk
Primary Care Trusts and the option Purchasing (eg. flu vaccines, gloves),
The distinctive feature of the for GPs to opt-in / opt-out of the GPs in local A&E.
SELDOC Co-operative is that it is new GP Contract, come a number
owned, managed and resourced by a of challenges and opportunities for SELDOC Limited
475 GP members co-operative, who SELDOC and its GP members. Dulwich Hospital
looks after around one million East Dulwich Grove
patients. SELDOC, represents a powerful London SE22 8PT
platform that provides
SELDOC is a very successful generic/primary healthcare services. Tel: +44 (0) 20 8299 2619
healthcare co-operative and excellent SELDOC under the umberella of Fax: +44 (0) 20 8693 5512
example of a true co-operative. Its social enterprise has diversified into www.seldoc.co.uk
Co-operativesUK is the national Co-operative enterprise has proven develop effective co-operative
member-owned and led organisation itself over more than one hundred solutions to public service delivery.
that promotes the interests of co- and fifty years as a sustainable and
operative enterprise, works to effective means of meeting Co-operativesUK
increase awareness and community needs, whilst Holyoake House
understanding of co-operative values simultaneously providing a Hanover Street
and principles, and supports the participative and democratically Manchester M60 0AS
development and growth of new and accountable approuch. United Kingdom
existing co-operatives. It is a focal
point for the sector, a forum for Co-operativesUK, through our Tel: +44 (0)161 246 2900
innovation and best practice, and a ‘Provide’ project is currently working
strategic voice for the co-operative with local authorities and service email: info@cooperatives-uk.coop
movement. providers across the country to www.cooperatives-uk.coop/provide
Mutuo is a think tank dedicated to Mutuo is extending the boundaries Peter Hunt – Director
the promotion of mutual solutions of mutual enterprise by developing Mutuo
to economic and social needs. new mutual ownership structures 77 Weston Street
that can be applied to a wide range London SE1 3SD
Mutuo operates as a publisher and of public services and private United Kingdom
researcher for the mutual sector, businesses including housing,
giving a stronger voice to mutual health, pre-school childcare, and Tel: +44 (0) 20 7367 4150
businesses by communicating the sport.
value of mutuality to UK www.mutuo.co.uk
policymakers and opinion formers.
The International Health Co- • To promote the development of IHCO was founded in November
operative Organisation (IHCO) is a health co-operatives; 1996, by UNIMED of Brazil (a co-
specialist organisation of the operative of doctors), the Japanese
International Co-operative Alliance • To collaborate with other Consumers' Co-operative Union (a
(ICA). specialised bodies of the ICA. user co-operative) and the Espriu
Foundation in Spain (an integrated
The IHCO's objectives: Membership is open to user and provider health co-
organisations that are affiliated operative).
• To provide a forum for the either directly or indirectly to the
discussion and exchange of issues ICA and have as their main The IHCO currently has members
of relevance to its member objective the provision of health care in Belgium, Brazil. Canada, Chile,
organisations; to their members or the provision of Estonia, Japan, Malaysia, Paraguay,
self-employment for health Russia, the Slovak Republic, Sweden
• To provide information to United professionals (doctors, nurses, etc.) and the United Kingdom.
Nations organisations, national or the integration of consumers' and
governments, the media and the producers' co-operatives.
public about the nature and role
of health co-operatives;

7. Health co-operative - an international To register interest
contact SELDOC on:
perspective... lessons for UK healthcare? Tel: +44 (0) 20 8299 2619
Fax: +44 (0)20 8693 5512
To ensure a place at this conference queries please do not hesitate to the event simply phootocopy this suen@seldoc.nhs.uk
please complete this booking form contact our conference manager Rita form, download a PDF of the form www.seldoc.co.uk
and return it to Co-operativesUK at Butler on +44 (0)161 246 2908. If www.seldoc.co.uk, or call us for
Reg. No. 03156031
the address below. If you have you wish to book multiple places for additional copies.
Please reserve a place for me at the health co-operatives event on 10th February 2005
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Your Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . All those from NHS
Foundation Hospitals,
Job Title: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
prospective Foundation
Organisation: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . email: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hospital applicants,
GP co-operatives,
Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Primary Care Trust:,
voluntary sector bodies
.............................................................
involved in the delivery
............................................................. of healthcare via
co-operative models
Fees including:
The fee for the conference is £250 - Chief Executives
J J
+VAT (= £293.17) per person, to
Please invoice me at the above - Corporate Directors
include refreshments and a buffet I enclose a cheque. made payable to
SELDOC Limited: address: - Heads of Foundation
lunch. (£200 + VAT (=£235.00) for
voluntary sector and CoopUK members) Hospitals
Please contact SELDOC for group discounts. - Senior Managers
- Chairs / Non
Special needs Executive Directors
We would be grateful if you let us ............................................................. - GP Co-operative
know of any special needs Chief Executive /
requirements (including dietary .............................................................
General Managers
requirements) so that we can ensure
an enjoyable and problem-free day ............................................................. - Medical Directors
for you at the event. - Policy Advisors
Please return your
Conditions of Booking
completed booking
• By completing and returning this places if you find you are unable • The event programme may be
booking form you accept the to attend. Please let us know in subject to change. form to:
following conditions of booking a writing as soon as possible. Co-operativesUK
place at this event: Limited
• We reserve the right to cancel the
Holyoake House
• No cancellations can be accepted event at any point, and can be
once a place is booked at the held liable for any costs incurred Hanover Street
event, however we are happy to by delegates. Manchester M60 0AS
accept substitutes for booked United Kindom
Accommodation
For accommodation, please contact SELDOC +44 (0)20 8299 2619 Tel: +44 (0)161 246 2908
Fax: +44 (0)161 831 7684
rita.butler@cooperatives-uk.coop

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