More than 200 GP surgeries now run by private companies

The growing commercialisation of primary care has been 'substantially understated', with private firms now running over 200 surgeries and health centres across England and many companies rapidly expanding their business, a study has shown.

A report by the NHS Support Federation obtained data from PCTs on the spread of APMS contracts, which surged following the Labour Government's nationwide rollout of Darzi centres and APMS practices, reports Pulse magazine.

The study found that 227 GP surgeries and health centres in England are now run by 23 commercial companies, with nine firms, including Chilvers McCrea, Care UK and Assura Medical (recently taken over by Virgin), holding ten or more contracts.

Other companies making big inroads into the primary care market include Intrahealth, the Practice PLC and Malling Health.