3. 3
Who we are?
40 practice Federation covering 360,000 patients in
East Suffolk – not for profit
Started April 2013 – long process of discussion
Practices stay independent
Designed to overcome the weaknesses of the cottage
industry structure
Mix of rural/dispensing & urban – mean practice size
9,000 – 1 single hander
4. 4
Objectives
1. Maintain the independent contractor model - build on
strengths and develop
2. Help practices address local issues e.g. workload &
recruitment
3. Ensure primary care can compete for contracts
5. 5
Our business model
Provide patient services e.g. ultrasound etc – generate
a surplus
Use management infrastructure to provide services to
practices
Bidding on behalf of practices
Reducing costs
GP development programme
Commercial research offering
Recruitment package
Retain local feel for members e.g. locality groups
6. 6
Five issues
1. Getting quick decisions – can we compete with the
integrated model?
2. What if a practice does not deliver?
3. Extracting cash savings e.g. from back office
centralisation
4. Financing the significant start-up costs
5. Need for scale v desire for localness
