The acquisition of neuro-rehabilitation provider, Christchurch Group, by Montreux Capital in December 2019 is a useful prompt for reviewing merger control risks in neuro-rehab services and wider adult specialist care. While the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reviewed several mergers in the mental health sector in recent years (e.g. Acadia’s acquisition of Priory Group), neuro-rehab…

The CMA has taken an increasing interest in reviewing mergers in the health and care sector in recent years. In part, this has been a result of the CMA taking on responsibility for reviewing mergers between NHS hospitals. With the Government now considering whether this should continue, its worth having a look at recent trends…

Large-scale GP organisations, including corporations that own multiple GP practices and super-partnerships between GP practices, are growing rapidly. The development of Primary Care Networks by NHS England seems likely to further encourage this growth. However, many large-scale GP organisations have a significant number of practices in local areas, and further expansion could lead to scrutiny…

NHS mental health trusts could, according to a report in HSJ, face regulatory action for not reducing the time patients spend in units a long way from home (known as ‘out of area placements’). There is little to argue about with a policy that is aimed at ending by 2020/21 what are known in NHS-speak…

NHS England has announced the piloting of an app that allows patients to access a GP through their smartphone. GP services offered through the app will compete with existing bricks and mortar services, and represents a massive injection of competition into primary care services. Patient migration to the app-based service will leave existing GP practices…