GMS, PMS & APMS Contract Support
There is an ever-increasing reduction in General Medical Service (GMS) contracts and all of us at GPS, fully support the traditional General Practice model.
Why choose GPS?
Your business is in safe hands when you instruct us. We act for over 3,000 GP practices and more than 89 PCNs throughout England.
CIn case you’re curious, the remaining 1% of our clients are primary care ‘champions’ – including LMCs, the GPDF and the BMA.
You will be working with the largest and most experienced team of specialists in the UK. This year alone (up until June 2023), we have prepared over 120 Partnership Deeds; drafted more than 89 PCN, supported more than 50 practices with commissioner and negotiated 45 partnership disputes to a successful resolution.
We have an enviable reputation in the field of PCNs, having advised over 89 PCNs in England on their structuring, strategy, and management issues.
A forever changing landscape
Primary Care has become increasingly complex because of pressure to work collaboratively at scale, and the need to adapt to a changing workforce. 99% of GP practices are now members of a Primary Care Network, well as maintaining other key relationships. Practices may well provide services under a variety of non-GMS contracts, often through GP Federations or perhaps on contracts with local Councils or Trusts. At the same time practices have to think about their long-term viability as the number of GP partners continues to decline.
We have helped many GP practices choose the right path to secure additional profitable income streams and to underpin the future of the practice. Uniquely, we have the expertise to advise you on your business strategy, in addition to the legal know-how to get you to your goals.
If you are one of the increasing number of GP practices looking to incorporate as a limited company, we have a tried and tested method to help you with this.
If you are looking to create or join a super partnership or perhaps to leave one and regain your independence, we have some of the top business strategy experts in primary care who will advise you on your commercial options as well as your contractual documents.
We regularly support clients who are bidding for APMS, NHS Standard, and other contracts. These contracts are very long and complicated, and it is important that the terms and risks are fully understood before signing them, even if you are coming under pressure to sign quickly. Our understanding of the contractual regulations and procurement process, combined with our experience of negotiating commercial contracts, means that we can focus quickly on what is, and what is not, negotiable.
Please bear in mind that the NHS has changed and the days of relying on good faith and handshakes are long gone. Contracts will now get enforced, so it is a good idea to protect yourself by getting them properly drafted and negotiated by experts at the outset.
Contact us today for a free discussion about your requirements and how we can help you.
If you are looking at ways to protect your practice, your personal assets or your future viability, we can help you with:
- Mergers & acquisitions of GP practices.
- Incorporation of a GP practice.
- Formation of super partnerships and GP federations.
- Primary Care Networks (including PCN Incorporation).
- Creation of alternative provider entities, including limited companies, LLPs, CICs, JVs, consortium agreements and expense sharing arrangements.
- Securing & protecting your GMS or PMS contract.
- Setting up as a private GP.
- Tendering for contracts.
Primary Care Networks
PCNs were established at great speed in 2019. At first, they comprised a couple of shared ARRS resources and were seen as a relatively low risk way to bring additional funding into primary care and to encourage collaborative working. Fast forward a few years and PCNs have experienced rapid growth. There seems little doubt that they are here to stay, but PCNs are now finding it challenging to manage the risks associated with scale and are looking to find different, more sustainable ways of working.
Options include ‘incorporating’ the PCN, working with a GP Federation, or merging to form a PCN sized practice. It is important to understand what works for your PCN as there is no single ‘right’ answer.
Examples of recent work for our PCN clients includes:
- PCN agreements.
- PCN incorporation.
- Joining / leaving PCNs.
- Collaboration agreements
- Workforce sharing agreements.
- VAT cost sharing group establishment.
- PCN DES subcontract (including framework agreements).
- ARRS subcontract agreements.
- Data sharing agreements.
- Employment advice.
- Dispute resolution.
Price Promise
We regularly benchmark the cost of our services because we are proud of our price promise guarantee. In the unlikely event of you sourcing a genuine like-for-like quote from another provider, please let us know because not only will we match it, but we will also reduce it by another 10%.
If you have any further questions, please contact us and a friendly member of our team will be happy to assist.
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