Successful Multi Practice Merger Completion by VWV Healthcare Team

Our specialist Healthcare team have completed the merger of three GP federations: Battersea Healthcare CIC, West Wandsworth Provider Group Limited and Putney Primary Healthcare Limited.

Battersea Healthcare is a GP practice-owned community interest company and social enterprise set up to provide quality healthcare for all the people of Wandsworth. It has a record of providing patient focused healthcare services, while working to improve the capability of the Wandsworth healthcare system to provide better services for its patients.

The merged entity enabled Battersea Healthcare to offer the local CCG 100% coverage of registered patients. From this, they were able to win enhanced care contracts to be provided through local practices, and ultimately become the MCP provider in Wandsworth. Battersea Healthcare is also a Health England Education approved Community Education Provider Network (CEPN).

We have previously advised on the creation and merger of other GP federations, such as Healthbridge Direct and other CEPNs such as Richmond CEPN.

Chief Executive of Battersea Healthcare, Jim Fenwick commented:

"The merger of the existing federations in Wandsworth was a necessary step in our development. The federations all had different structures, shareholdings and values. We were able to create a model to provide both the necessary structure for today’s needs, but one futureproofed for whichever direction we choose to pursue as the NHS evolves. The team at VWV walked us through the process from start to finish, making sense of these complexities. Professional as always, VWV have been with us throughout.”

Ben Willis, who leads VWV's Healthcare team, commented:

"This was a complex merger between three GP-practice owed federations involving 37 GP practices and the additional requirements of Battersea Healthcare being a regulated social enterprise. It is great to hear how Battersea Healthcare has rapidly developed into the MCP Provider for the local CCG.

We have worked with Jim and his team for a number of years and are delighted that Battersea Healthcare has gone from strength to strength. Having been joined by healthcare specialists Lockharts Solicitors on 30 January 2017, we are confident that this will benefit our existing healthcare clients by strengthening our expertise."