Branson launches healthcare business
Branson launches healthcare business
Virgin Healthcare clinics would offer a “one-stop-shop” approach to healthcare including services from homeopathy to therapy alongside typical general practitioner services. Virgin would offer a range of additional NHS and private services to visiting patients, including dentistry, screening, a pharmacy, “And a range of conventional and complementary therapies…”
Homeopathy is the second most widely used medicinal system in the world and it has been used safely and effectively for over 200 years. Unlike allopathic medicines, which suppress symptoms rather than curing, homeopathy supports the natural curative mechanisms within the body….
“The low cost of the medications and the rarity of adverse reactions make homeopathy preferable, in most cases, to modern drugs. Furthermore, because the medicines are inexpensive, safe, and easy to use, individuals can learn to handle many common illnesses for which people regularly seek medical help,” says William Shevin MD.
Ministers welcomed Virgin Healthcare’s decision to open the first of six “one-stop-shop” health centres later this year, which could offer services from homeopathy to therapy alongside typical GP services.
After two years of planning, the group embarked on its first advertising campaign on Thursday to stir interest among family doctors in joining its health centres.
Under the business model, GPs would retain their existing contracts but Virgin would manage funds the doctors receive for staff costs and rental. Virgin would then offer a range of additional NHS and private services to visiting patients, including dentistry, screening, a pharmacy “and a range of conventional and complementary therapies”.
Mark Adams, Virgin Healthcare chief executive, said that while GPs would retain their existing contracts, “it would change the delivery model from something designed in 1946 to something that better serves today’s world”.
He said the group was “there to help GPs rather than to threaten them”. Virgin has no plans to bid for alternative provider contracts from primary care trusts.
Virgin’s move comes as the government is looking to open 250 new GP practices and health centres over the next few years, 100 surgeries in under-doctored areas, and 150 other new health centres with extended opening hours elsewhere in the country.
Mark Britnell, director of commissioning at the department of health, said £250m a year had been earmarked for the new services, “and we are very pleased that Virgin and others are prepared to offer them”.
Over the next five or so years, “there is a potential business here worth more than £1bn for Virgin, Assura, Boots and other private-sector providers to bid into, alongside existing GPs and foundation trusts”.
By offering its brand and managing the operation of centres, Virgin’s business model differs from that of providers such as Assura, which focus on providing capital and project management. Alliance Boots also provides local services and has opened a healthcare centre in its Poole store, but it leases space to the NHS rather than providing services directly.
Virgin is planning a “road-show” through 26 towns and cities – including Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol – to explain its plans in more detail to doctors. The group is recruiting dentists, therapists and hygienists, dental nurses and health centre managers.
Ben Bradshaw, health minister, welcomed the launch. “I am pleased that Virgin Healthcare is proposing to work with GPs to help develop more integrated services for patients,” he said. “We want to see the fullest possible range of service providers, including independent sector partners, developing innovative proposals to promote better health, improve patient access and develop more personalised care for patients”. By Alex Barker and Nick Timmins Published: January 10 2008 22:03 The Financial Times Limited 2008
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