Following the collapse of One Norwich Practices (ONP) in October, staff were concerned about their job security and whether they would receive their pay beyond November. The organization was no longer financially sustainable, leaving NHS bosses to search for a new provider to take over the services of the company, which include the walk-in center, Norwich’s busiest GP practice, and vulnerable adults services. The collapse of ONP left NHS bosses scrambling to commission a replacement, but the search is now understood to be nearing its conclusion, with officials currently undergoing a ‘due diligence’ process to iron out final details with prospective replacement providers.
Despite the initial concerns, ONP workers have been assured that they will receive their December pay packets after all. The collapse of ONP and the subsequent search for a new provider has been a difficult time for both staff and patients who rely on these services. The NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB has been working to ensure that disruption to patient care is minimized and to protect the wellbeing of staff, as well as ensuring their continued employment within the local healthcare system. In recent weeks, teams from the ICB have been working to identify suitable alternative providers who can take over the contracts that ONP hold on behalf of the ICB.
The ICB and ONP are doing everything possible to ensure the safe transition of staff and services to alternative providers, and more information on those arrangements will be communicated in the coming days and weeks. The collapse of ONP serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by healthcare organizations and the impact it can have on both staff and patients. The ICB’s immediate priorities have been to minimize disruption to patient care and work towards ensuring the continued employment of ONP staff within the local healthcare system. With the search for a new provider nearing its conclusion, there is hope that the transition to alternative providers will be a smooth one, ensuring the continued provision of essential healthcare services to the community.
