Doctors in Wales refuse work over £250,000 in alleged unpaid wages, citing “dangerous” conditions

Medical professionals have issued warnings regarding “dangerous” staffing levels and “potentially catastrophic” shortages of supplies at clinics supported by a GP management firm. Some locum doctors have declined to work at Welsh practices associated with eHarley Street, asserting that they are collectively owed approximately £250,000 in outstanding payments. A long-serving doctor also informed BBC Wales of troubling hygiene issues he observed, while the Aneurin Bevan health board in south-east Wales confirmed it was “aware of concerns related to a GP partnership.” Conversely, eHarley Street – whose website declares it is “putting the joy back into general practice” – unequivocally refuted these allegations. Dr. Mark Wells, clinical lead at Brynmawr Medical Practice in Blaenau Gwent, recounted a recent day, stating: “I was the only GP – for a practice of 11,000 patients.” He indicated that the surgery should ideally have the equivalent of five general practitioners. Dr. Wells explained that locums, who temporarily cover GP rotas, “are basically refusing to work because they know they are not being paid.” He characterized the staffing levels as “dangerous” and noted that the surgery had previously closed early due to a lack of clinicians. “I had 50 patient contacts yesterday – if there were any urgent calls, that would be impossible for me to handle.” Brynmawr Medical Practice is contracted by the health board to two GPs, who are also the individuals operating eHarley Street. Staff at the practice reported being informed that a “central management team” at eHarley Street would manage human resources, finances, and the booking of locum doctors. “There’s no guarantee of being paid,” stated Dr. Samantha Jenkins, who is owed over £10,000 from her work at Blaenavon Medical Practice in Torfaen and Brynmawr Medical Practice. Dr. Jenkins mentioned she was instructed to address her invoices, which BBC Wales has reviewed, to eHarley Street. She confirmed that doctors are now refusing to work, adding, “We’ve got families and homes and mortgages.” Dr. Jenkins further reported that Blaenavon practice had limited oxygen availability “for a couple of weeks,” which she described as a “huge patient safety concern.” She warned, “That’s potentially catastrophic if you’re in an emergency situation.” The Welsh surgeries connected to eHarley Street include Brynmawr Medical Practice; Blaenavon Medical Practice; Pontypool Medical Centre; Bryntirion Surgery, Bargoed; Tredegar Health Centre; Aberbeeg Medical Practice; Gelligaer Surgery, Hengoed; The Corporation Road Surgery, Cardiff, and Lliswerry Medical Centre, Newport. BBC Wales understands that at least 37 clinicians are impacted. Dr. Ian Jones, another practitioner at Brynmawr practice, reported being owed more than £2,000, and BBC Wales has seen relevant correspondence between him and eHarley Street. Additionally, Dr. Hussein – who requested only his surname be used – worked at Lliswerry Medical Centre in Newport and stated he is owed £20,000 for locum services. Dr. Hussein, a doctor for 25 years, expressed apprehension regarding the quality of service provided to patients. “I feel very, very, very sorry to my patients,” he remarked. He added, “They’re not giving the appointments and services needed.” Dr. Hussein indicated his understanding that eHarley Street was managing the surgery’s daily operations. The company’s website claims to be “putting the joy back into general practice.” It asserts that it provides GPs with “practice management solutions” and that its “team of experts” aims to “liberate” medical professionals from “managerial burden” to enable “high standards of patient care.” While each Welsh GP surgery holds contracts with individual GPs, all nine practices in Wales are featured on the “our practices” section of the company’s website. The company also extends its support to 15 practices in England. The majority of the Welsh practices are situated within the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area, with one located in Cardiff. BBC Wales has reviewed correspondence from a medical supplies company that ceased its accounts with eHarley Street “due to overdue invoices.” Simon Juniper, who works for a company that supplies locum doctors to surgeries, commented, “The lack of communication is horrendous.” He stated that his business stopped providing locums to Welsh surgeries supported by eHarley Street because they were owed £25,000. The GPs contracted to operate the surgeries acknowledged facing financial “challenges” and confirmed that some locum payments had been “delayed,” but assured they would be settled. Amy McCrystal, manager at Brynmawr Medical Practice, noted that eHarley Street’s “biggest selling point” was its central management team, through which “support could be arranged – about rotas and booking locums.” However, she reported that some staff were still awaiting their October payslips, a waste bill remained unpaid, and there were concerns regarding prescriptions. She explained, “People are going to the chemist and asking for an emergency supply of medication because they haven’t been able to get their scripts in time from us.” BBC Wales has also been informed of difficulties in acquiring supplies such as wound packs and speculums, leading to clinic cancellations and patient backlogs. Ms. McCrystal confirmed that staff had escalated their concerns to the health board and had visited eHarley Street’s headquarters in Leicestershire. Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd (MS) Heledd Fychan raised concerns about eHarley Street during a recent Senedd debate, observing that large firms were “starting to step into the market of GP services, buying and running a number of surgeries,” with eHarley Street serving as “a clear example.” She asserted, “This continues with the damaging trend of profits being taken out of the health system into private pockets, and also makes the provision vulnerable.” BBC Wales has learned that local GPs submitted bids for the Brynmawr Medical Practice contract but were rejected by the health board. Dr. Sadequr Rahman from Cardiff, a doctor with 25 years of experience, stated he had never encountered such a situation and is owed £1,850. Having worked at the Blaenavon, Bryntirion, Lliswerry, Tredegar, and Aberbeeg practices, he recounted having to personally dispose of waste at Blaenavon. “We had to take the bin out and wrap the plastic carrier bag and put it in the waste disposal area – which was very, very full,” Dr. Rahman described. He added, “If clinical waste is not being disposed of, that is a hygiene problem.” In a statement issued by its solicitors, eHarley Street clarified that it “does not hold any contracts for General Medical Services (GMS) in Wales,” but that three partners possess “several contracts” for surgeries that “may have been the subject of the complaints outlined.” The statement noted: “The operation of general practice – is currently under significant financial strain,” and that “the surgeries operated by the partners have faced similar challenges.” It continued, “While some locum payments have regrettably been delayed, the vast majority have been settled, and the partners are confident that no outstanding payments will remain unpaid