Compromise offered in funding row over future of Corby Urgent Care Centre

A compromise has been put forward in the funding row over the future of Corby Urgent Care Centre.
Corby Urgent Care CentreCorby Urgent Care Centre
Corby Urgent Care Centre

In response to concerns raised by patients, Lakeside+ has offered a ‘major concession’ to keep the centre open with the existing staff after April 1.

The offer suggests that both parties back away from the March 31 deadline and keep the centre open while the legal process carries on to fix how much the centre will be paid for treating NHS patients.

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It comes as Lakeside+ has been inundated with both local and national messages of support since news of the situation broke.

Reacting to patient demand, the doctor-led team at the centre says it has done everything it can to reassure patients that this specific team and model could continue.

Lakeside+ approached the CCG yesterday reinforcing their strong willingness to continue to deliver this leading service at the Corby Urgent Care Centre and ensure that the service is not disrupted.

This has been followed up today (Friday) by a more specific offer setting out exactly how this might be done.

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An open letter which has been sent to the CCGs states: “The CCGs have asked Lakeside to extend the existing contract to operate the Urgent Care Centre until 30 November 2017 at the existing payment levels.

“Lakeside+ Limited have made it clear that we are not prepared to do so because, at present, Lakeside+ Limited is operating the present service at a considerable loss of abut £30,000 per month.

“We believe that the CCGs are legally obliged to pay us NHS National Tariff rates for providing the services.

“However, it is plainly in the interests of the people of Corby for the Urgent Care Centre to continue to function after 1 April 2017.

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“The quality of services provided to local people arises from the combined expertise of the doctors, nurses and support staff.

“It would plainly not be in the interests of anyone to break up those teams delivering that quality of services, as it would be to the detriment of patients and the local health economy.”

The letter goes on to say that Lakeside+ Limited is prepared to compromise by offering to continue operating the services after 1 April 2017 on several terms.

If they can agree on these terms, Lakeside+ Limited believes this arrangement would enable the services to continue for the benefit of the public, allow both sides to maintain their legal positions and ensure that the payment per patient dispute is resolved quickly within the processes set out in the contract.

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Dr McGrath said: “This centre is a solution and not a problem to the NHS; everything that we and the CCG do must aim at achieving the highest clinical standards that the patients of Corby have fought hard for and deserve.”

To read more about the funding row, click here

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