Time for GP Provider Collaboratives?
Is it time for private equity to join up with GPs? I was asked to create a BHAG! (look it up) so here it is!
Seen a lot of talk about GP provider collaboratives working at scale across 200-500K population. These have huge potential but lots of issues.
There is a lot of work to be done - the whole “shift left” - effectively with the government wanting to cut elective waits - there is a huge opportunity - the traditional way is to hire private consultants - and pay them a fortune - and perhaps for a hip replacement - there is no alternative but for a lot of stuff - the intermediate level stuff - so called GPwSIs GPs with Special interest/knowledge/skills could be the answer.
Private hospitals aren’t known for high volume efficiency - they are known for high priced luxury they aren’t set up like old style treatment centres.
There are lot of GPs out there with advanced training in dermatology, medicine, ENT, gynae, MSK etc and a lot of what gets referred into secondary care could be done in extended primary care and a lot is by some though its variable and as its not funded and the demands on GP time are for other things its increasingly being done less however with estates, organisation and funding a new primary care provider at scale could be the solution. A lot of about to retire GPs might be more than willing to work in their area of interest without the hassle of general general practice.
However leadership and organisation and perhaps funding arent there. GPs are perhaps not used to investing - being trapped in a partnership model trains them not to be and while running small businesses they arent used to setting them up from scratch. GP Provider collabs will get trapped in governance and role and TOR and models unless they have support and funding.
The right combination of business acumen and funding might attract a lot of GPs to do the work - you would need some consultants to provide some clinical governance and you would need some commissioners to take a punt on buying this - but perhaps the time is right?
Now of course some acute trusts might be thinking the same thing - lets employ a load of GPSIs..and do this work - they went for PAs big time so GPs might be there next step, however unlike PE they wont consider a profit share/equity stake which might be what tips the balance for some to join.
Is it time to create a slide deck for an investment round for a new company to take on the left shift?