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A Leicestershire-based GP management company, which was heavily criticised for its running of primary care services in the Gwent area, is to ‘hand back’ a further three practices to the NHS – including Gelligaer Surgery.
Doctors Jalil Ahmed and Jonathan Allinson, of eHarley Street, handed back their General Medical Services contracts for Aberbeeg Medical Centre, Blaenavon Medical Practice; Brynmawr Medical Practice; Tredegar Medical Practice, and Bargoed’s Bryntirion Surgery around 12 months ago.
The partnership will now also hand back Lliswerry Medical Practice, in Newport; Meddygfa Gelligaer Surgery; and Pontypool Medical Centre to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which will run the practices from April.
In a statement, a spokesperson for ABUHB said: “The health board is working closely with the partnership to ensure a smooth transition.
“From April 1, 2026, all three practices will be managed by the health board while longer-term arrangements for their future delivery are considered.
“We would like to reassure staff and patients that access to GP services will continue as normal at these practices, and no disruption to care is expected. We will keep staff and patients fully informed of any developments or changes as this process progresses.”
Concerns
The company was widely criticised for its management of NHS services in Wales. It was widely reported the firm had failed to pay locum doctors, suppliers, and staff pension contributions.
It also reportedly owed payments to HMRC and had relied on support from the health board.
After it handed back contracts last year, the company was placed under “enhanced monitoring” by ABUHB. From April, it will no longer hold any GMS contracts the health board’s area
The GP independent contractor model
Under the independent contractor model, GPs are self-employed and have responsibility for running the surgery and providing primary care under an NHS General Medical Services contract.
In Wales, this contract is negotiated routinely every year by the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association, and Welsh Government, through the union’s Welsh GP Committee.
The most recent contract resignations have been welcomed by Caerphilly Senedd Member Lindsay Whittle, and his Plaid Cymru colleague Delyth Jewell, Senedd Member for South Wales East.
Ms Jewell said: “Patients and doctors across this region will feel relief at reading this news.
“I have raised concerns for months about patients facing barriers to accessing care in practices managed by eHarley Street, as well as concerns over doctors who said they hadn’t been paid for their shifts.
“Questions remain about how these contracts were awarded in the first place, but many people will be glad to see the health board taking over. These patients deserve certainty now about the future of these practices.”
Mr Whittle added: “This announcement is very concerning because that in the constituency we have lost three surgeries at Gilfach, Penyrheol and Lansbury Park. One has to wonder how safe the GP facility will be under this government.”
Why is Caerphilly in Gwent?
Caerphilly County Borough was formed on April 1, 1996, by the merger of the Rhymney Valley district of Mid Glamorgan with the Islwyn borough of Gwent.
Administratively, for local services such as the police and health, the borough now falls under a wider region referred to as Gwent. This comprises the council areas of Caerphilly, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.
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