Novel private partnership splits up
By Robin Stride
The British partner of a much-celebrated healthcare marriage with an American hospital group in London has pulled out of the partnership, citing the arrangement’s failure to reap the expected benefits.
How we covered news of the link-up in June 2019
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust teamed up with the Mayo Clinic last year and this was celebrated with razzmatazz and a sparkling wine party for doctors and other leading lights in private healthcare in the Langham Hotel’s ballroom in London.
But, within months, things were not going as planned and the ‘Mayo Clinic Healthcare in partnership with Oxford University Clinic’, offering screening and diagnostic services at 15 Portland Place, has split.
Dr Bruno Holthof, chief executive officer at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, explained that the trust had expanded its commercial activities with the objective of cross-subsidising the costs of NHS care.
In a statement sent to Independent Practitioner Today, he said: ‘As part of this, the trust was keen to work in partnership with Mayo Clinic and the University of Oxford to explore a private patient partnership to drive advances in medical research and patient care, enabling more proactive health management and co-ordinated care, as well as better health outcomes.
‘However, following a detailed review of Mayo Clinic Healthcare in partnership with Oxford University Clinic LLP’s business plan, the trust concluded that its aims and risk appetite as a public sector entity were no longer closely aligned with the partnership. We have therefore ended our partnership with the clinic.’
Joint decision
He said Oxford and Mayo Clinic decided jointly to end the partnership wished Mayo ‘the very best with making the clinic a success going forward.’
Dr Holthof added: ‘While the trust’s involvement in the partnership did not generate the envisaged benefits, the trust estimates that after reasonable deductions for costs, it has generated surpluses from its overall commercial activities totalling £64m in the past four years.
‘In 2019-20, the trust created the post of commercial director to strengthen leadership in this area and is in the process of developing an overarching commercial strategy. These actions will help the trust to maximise the benefits from current investments and future commercial activities, which will be reinvested in NHS services to the ultimate benefit of the trust’s patients.’
Mayo Clinic’s international president G. Anton Decker said it had acquired Oxford University Clinic’s interest in the joint venture. The clinic will be operated as a Mayo Clinic entity, under the ‘Mayo Clinic Healthcare’ brand, but the operator would not disclose financial terms.
He said: ‘Clinic patients have told us that they would like expanded Mayo Clinic specialty care at the clinic.
Preventive care
‘In response, Mayo Clinic is building its London services to add to its foundation of preventive health care and deliver specialty care such as cardiology and gastroenterology; provide second opinions across all medical conditions and specialties; and offer genomic and pharmacogenomic analysis, Covid-19 testing and other screening capabilities.
‘Patients may receive care there, arrange virtual consultations with Mayo Clinic specialists in the United States or schedule visits to Mayo Clinic’s sites in Rochester, Minnesota; Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; or Jacksonville, Florida. Mayo Clinic will work with each individual patient to tailor care.’