Manchester expansion planned for Babylon Health
Babylon Health plans to expand to Manchester with its GP at Hand app by early 2020, according to a report in the HSJ. Director of NHS services for Babylon Health … Read more
GP surgeries
GP at Hand app tells women its hysteria not a heart attack
Babylon Health’s GP at Hand app has been accused of putting patients at risk, according to an article in the Sunday Times, after it emerged that if a woman entered … Read more
NHS England instigates rule changes for digital providers
New rules from NHS England to be put in place in April 2020 will mean digital-first GP providers will have to set up a clinic in most localities where they … Read more
Fourth practice in Swindon put in special measures after CQC inspection
Four GP surgeries in Swindon run by tBetter Health Partnership have been placed in special measures following CQC inspections. The practices have to make urgent improvements, according to the CQC. … Read more
Abbey Meads GP practice in special measures after damning report highlights safety fears
A CQC report on Abbey Meads, GP practice in Swindon, has said urgent overall improvement is needed and rated it “inadequate”; this is the fifth IMH-managed Swindon surgery to receive … Read more
Private firm’s £25m deal halted by threat of legal action by NHS providers
Halton CCG has abandoned a procurement process for contracts worth £25m following the threat of legal action by local NHS organisations. The CCG had chosen as its preferred bidder to … Read more
“A license to print money”: how AI created a £26m deficit for one NHS group
On a busy road in Fulham, West London, between the Pizza Go-Go and the A-Z Wine Mart, stands England’s fastest-growing GP surgery. In April 2017, the Lillie Road Medical Centre … Read more
GP phone fiasco firm IMH withdrawing from Swindon after patient problems and technical faults
After months of complaints and technical problems in clinics, the IMH Group will withdraw from primary care in Swindon. The Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group confirmed that Integral Medical Holdings will … Read more
CCG to cut urgent care centre hours following GP at Hand deficit
NHS Hammersmith and Fulham, the CCG hosting the digital service GP at Hand, has revealed plans to cut urgent care centre hours due to its ‘very challenging financial position’. Pulse … Read more
GPs fear patient exodus to Babylon as CCG confirms cuts to extended hours funding
The BMJ reports that Hammersmith and Fulham CCG, which hosts the GP at Hand digital GP service, is cutting the funding for extended hours appointments available to patients at other … Read more
Alarm raised over CQC failure to inspect Babylon’s GP at Hand
GP Online reports that Babylon Health’s GP at Hand service has never been inspected by the CQC despite signing up more than 45,000 NHS patients and preparing to expand to … Read more
Advertising campaign sees GP at Hand patient list increase by 3,200 in a month
The last month has seen patient numbers at the digital-first Babylon GP at Hand practice surge, according to local CCG board papers seen by Pulse, following a London-wide advertising campaign … Read more
The NHS App is unable to connect to any online GP suppliers
According to HSJ, the NHS App which was designed to be a digital “front door” for all NHS patients is actually unable to connect with any current providers of online … Read more
GP campaign group calls for Babylon boycott until ‘full impact’ is known
Pulse reports that, the grassroots GP campaign group, GP Survival, has called on GPs to boycott working with Babylon until the independent evaluation of its NHS service is complete and … Read more
Babylon looks for $400m of fresh funding
Babylon, one of Britain’s most prominent digital health start-ups, is trying to raise about $400m, the FT reports. The company spent more than $75m last year on a rapid expansion, … Read more
GP at Hand cleared to expand to Birmingham
Digital practice GP at Hand has been cleared to expand into Birmingham, reports the HSJ, following the removal of an objection by NHS England. The Clinical Commissioning Group, which hosts … Read more
If not mitigated GP at Hand costs could ‘jeopardise’ other health services
Other health services could be jeopardised by the costs associated with the Babylon GP at Hand practice if these are not mitigated, say the host CCG, Hammersmith and Fulhum. The … Read more
Private online provider partners with GP networks covering 88,000 patients
Private online GP provider Push Doctor has partnered with two primary care networks in Birmingham, giving 88,000 NHS patients access to video consultations. In the announcement today, Push Doctor said … Read more
CCGs contest being charged for Babylon GP at Hand patients
CCGs in London have been told to set aside money to cover the cost of patients who live in their CCGs, but are registered with GP at Hand, however some … Read more
A decline in the quality and safety of care
One of the most serious affects of outsourcing in the NHS that has been observed is a decline in quality of care and safety issues. Quality and safety are linked … Read more
