Somerset practice becomes the first employee-owned trust with a John Lewis style employee partnership

Minehead Medical Centre has become the first individual GP in the country to operate in such a way

The advantage of this model is that it enables the practice to offer GPs and other health staff a say in how their practice is run. Staff at the practice can also develop a leadership role without needing to have money to invest in a partnership and profits generated are invested back into the practice to help improve services, training and wages.

A key driver in the decision by the practice to incorporate firstly as a limited company and then as an EOT is to help protect the ongoing stability and sustainability of the practice; through making it a more attractive place for staff to work and develop their careers.

In common with many GPs, Minehead Medical Centre has found it challenging to recruit staff because of its geographic location. This is part of wider national picture in more rural areas where there are challenges in recruiting GPs, as many are nearing retirement age and there are not enough new doctors being trained who want to go into general practice.

Ed Ford, the GP who has led the development of the employee-owned trust at Minehead Medical Centre said “We have a fantastic management team and wider staff team, so partners at the practice felt we should give them more control of the business.

“We also wanted to ensure that the business structure shouldn’t rely on individuals holding shares that could be difficult to transfer if people wanted to leave – hence the idea of becoming an employee-owned trust (EOT).”

NHS Somerset commented: “This is the first application for a GP to become an EOT in Somerset and we are aware that other organisations may be interested in pursuing a similar model. We hope that this decision enables the Minehead Medical Centre to continue to provide its patients with the best possible care”.