Having a contract in writing: why you need one and why it's a good investment

Many business deals are concluded by “Gentleman’s Agreements”. These can work for people and businesses - until there is an issue or uncertainty. Unfortunately, deals and relationships in business can, and do, go wrong for many reasons....

Should your GP surgery lease contain a break clause?

When negotiating a new lease, there are lots of terms to consider. Whilst GP surgery leases are fairly similar to standard commercial leases, there are specific points that should be considered when negotiating the terms of the practice lease. Consideration...

Partnership retirement and restructuring

Birkett Long acted for the Partners of a GP Practice and their Bank (in connection with the financial arrangements) in relation to the retirement of a Partner. The work involved restructuring the GPs loans to newly appointed and continuing Partners who run...

Break clauses in healthcare leases - avoid the traps

Many present day healthcare leases contain a “break clause” which gives the tenant the right to terminate the lease before the end of its term. Landlords will often include conditions attaching to the break clause such as: The rent has been...

Health and Social Care Act 2012

On 27 March 2012, the Health and Social Care Bill 2010-12 received Royal Assent to become the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (“Act”). Key reforms under the Act include the introduction of clinical commissioning groups with responsibility for...

GP Premises - a battleground for disputes

Not only are GP practices involved in an increased number of disputes with their PCTs regarding practice premises, relating to the current market rent for the premises, the practice premises are also the reason for internal disputes between GPs. The...

GP Premises - why do GPs need written agreements?

Maintaining practice premises can be expensive and responsibility for such expense is not always clear. When GPs used to occupy premises with all partners having the same ownership interest in the property this was not an issue, since everyone understood who...

Abolition of GP practice boundaries

Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary, has announced that within the next 12 months patients will be given the right to choose their GPs, under reforms to open up real choice in primary care. To achieve this he wishes to abolish practice boundaries to allow...