'Striking' Covid contract was only offered to Queens Road

Islandhealth and the Healthcare Group today have gone public to explain more of what was happening behind the scenes as Health & Social Care tried to negotiate long-term deals just as the primary care practices were dealing with the worst of the pandemic.

They describe the ‘vastly’ higher sums paid to Queen’s Road Medical Practice as ‘very striking’.

Secrecy still surrounds that deal.

‘All three practices were offered two potential three-month contracts,’ IslandHealth and Healthcare Group said.

‘Both of these contained long-term implications for primary care in Guernsey and IslandHealth and the Healthcare Group felt such long-term matters should not be tied in to a three month contract put in place to tackle Covid.

‘The ‘Joint Working Contract’ was time limited, and Queen’s Road signed a negotiated form of this, to which the other practices have not been party. HSC made it clear that the contract arrangement that had been signed by Queen’s Road would not be available to the other practices.

‘At this stage both practices felt that payment for work done for the Covid cause was appropriate. They continued negotiation on the other ‘Call Off Contract’ but met similar contractual constraints. After much discussion and having been told that the contract was ‘not legally robust’, simple payment for work done was agreed with the States of Guernsey. The sums ultimately paid to Queen’s Road Medical Practice were seen for the first time by both practices when they appeared in the HSC press release.’

Queens Road were paid around £700,000 in April, May and June, the other two practices around £150,000 each.

‘The smaller sums received by IslandHealth and Healthcare Group have had an impact on the practices. The partners of the practices (as business owners) took on the financial burden in order to keep staff paid and surgeries functioning. It was made clear that any request to the States of Guernsey payroll co-payment scheme would not be granted as Primary Care Practices were deemed an ineligible sector of the economy. The practices also took on the significant financial risk, as, at the start of the pandemic, no-one knew how long it would last. HSC payments made to the Healthcare Group and IslandHealth were, naturally, not received until after the work had been carried out, itemised on invoices and presented to HSC. This delay compounded the financial pressures upon the practices.’

All three set up a Covid clinic at the Longfrie from 16 March, although HSC made clear any payment will only be from 1 April.

They also moved to offer telephone consultations.

‘Much of the time clinical work focused on GP’s clinical assistance to residents of nursing and residential homes. This was an example – referred to by HSC as “exemplary” – of all three practices working well together as each island home was allocated to just one practice, to minimise additional footfall within the homes. This also helped reduce the chance of any inadvertent Covid transmission between homes. This was a clinically very effective (but labour intensive) way of managing these homes. The record of Covid infection in care homes in Guernsey compares exceptionally well with most other locations. Regrettably two homes did see Covid cases and IslandHealth and Healthcare doctors stepped up to deal with these exceptionally challenging environments, and as a result, doubtlessly saved lives.’