GPS say they will 'freeze out' a firm which is controversially poised to take over a Lancashire surgery.

Last week it emerged SSP Health had won a contract to operate Withnell Health Centre - current GP Dr. Ann Robinson was unsuccessful.

Patients have lodged 1,500 objections with the Lancs Integrated Care Board (ICB), which assessed the bids, and staff say they will quit if the new arrangement comes into force.

Dr. Robinson said neither patients nor her workforce had been consulted and were unaware there was a possibility of the practice being handed over to a private conglomerate like SSP.

The firm insists it wants to “retain the team, continue their good work and add to the services available to patients”.

But it is now understood the Manchester-based operation faces being excluded from a local coalition of GPs in Chorley, of which Withnell Health Centre is currently a part.

'Chorley Together' is a primary care networks, a collaborative arrangement designed to enable practices to offer a wider range of services and more easily manage their affairs and recruit and retain staff.

Now their business manager has now written to the ICB board to express its members’ “dismay and concern” at what they describe as a “fundamentally flawed” procurement process concerning the Withnell centre.

Claire Hounslea also warned the network would not be welcoming the regional company to the local fold of GPs.

“The values and behaviours of SSP do not align with [those] of Chorley Together PCN and its member practices.  The impact of the ICB’s decision cannot be underestimated.

“The board of Chorley Together…will not accept SSP into the PCN if they remain the ICB’s preferred bidder for Withnell Health Centre. We will not be intimidated or bow to pressure from the ICB to do so."

Dr. Robinson is currently Chorley Together’s clinical director and the network claims the stability of the fledgling group could be put at risk by the “inevitable funding cuts” that would come from a move to exclude Withnell Health Centre from its number.

Andy Scaife, chief executive of SSP Health, said the company was “surprised and disappointed” to have learned of the primary care network’s intentions, “especially while the process is still ongoing and no details of the transition have been given to the PCN”.

“To date, neither Dr Robinson, …[nor] any member of the board of the PCN has reached out to us to make any attempt to understand our model, values and behaviours, as well as our intentions for this well-loved practice. And as such, statements relating to our values and behaviours are unfounded and not based on any facts.

 “We have already contacted Dr Robinson and would of course very much welcome the opportunity to engage with her, as well as the members of the PCN, to enable us to discuss and allay any concerns, worries and misconceptions that they may have."

Maggie Oldham, deputy chief exec of the ICB, said a representative had met with staff to “discuss their concerns”.

She added: “We are aware of a number of patients registered at this practice who have expressed concern about the future of Withnell Health Centre.

"We recognise the concerns of staff and patients and would like to take this opportunity to reassure patients services will be continuing at the health centre.

“As with all procurement exercises, engagement with the public was part of the process. In regard to Withnell Health Centre, all patients were sent a letter informing them that a temporary contract had been awarded and that there would be a future process to identify a long-term provider.

"They were also invited to submit their views via a patient survey – and there was an approximate 11 percent response rate."