One Medicare, which has turned around general practice services in Minehead over the last 18 months, will continue to run the practice after a successful procurement exercise by the local NHS.
In June, NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB), which is responsible for planning, paying for and monitoring general practice services in the county, launched a process to procure a provider to formally take on the provision of general practice services in Minehead by tendering a three-year contract* starting in January 2026 (with an option to extend for a further two years, subject to mutual agreement).
Following a competitive and thorough procurement process, NHS Somerset is pleased to announce One Medicare as the successful applicant.
One Medicare has been running services at Minehead Medical Centre, in Irnham Road, since January 2024 on an interim two-year caretaker contract after the CQC rated the previous operator inadequate and issued a notice of suspension.
Since stepping in, the One Medicare team has been turning around services at the centre and their efforts were formally recognised in August 2025 when the CQC rated services as Good.
One Medicare stabilised the service and made key improvements including needs-based access through triage systems, more robust processes and procedures and an upgraded telephone system. In its report, the CQC found no elements of care not meeting the expected standard and noted the practice was “working to understand their patient population and were passionate about developing and implementing systems and processes to improve health outcomes”.
Sukeina Kassam, Director of Primary Care at NHS Somerset ICB, said: “This was a rigorous procurement process and we were very impressed with One Medicare’s submission. Rapid improvements have already been delivered and we look forward to continuing to work with the practice to maintain the momentum and deliver further developments for the benefit of local people.”
Katheryn Antonelli, Operations Manager at the practice, said: “As someone local to Minehead, I’m delighted to see the continued progress being made at Minehead Medical Centre. The team here is passionate about the community and proud of the strides we’ve made, as reflected in the recent CQC rating.
“We know there’s still more to be done, and we’re committed to ongoing improvement. Over the coming years, we’ll be focusing on expanding access, enhancing patient experience, and further developing integrated services to meet the evolving needs of the local population.”
Barbara Seacombe, Chair of the practice’s Patient Participation Group, said: Congratulations to One Medicare. We have built a warm and positive relationship with the dedicated team, who are always keen to listen to the voice of patients. Many improvements have already been made, and we feel confident that even more will follow in the future.”
Rachel Beverley-Stevenson, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of OneMedical Group and OneMedicare, said: At Minehead Medical Centre, our commitment to putting patients first is at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to serve the Minehead community, and the recent procurement success and positive CQC rating are a reflection of the dedication and hard work of our entire team.
“We are also delighted to welcome Dr Christian Hornung, who will be joining us as Clinical Lead from 1 October 2025. Dr Hornung brings over a decade of experience as a GP partner in Somerset and has served as a Clinical Director for the past three years. He has a strong track record in clinical leadership, service development, and driving innovation within primary care. His appointment represents an exciting step forward for the practice as we continue to enhance the quality and accessibility of care for our patients.”
Dr Christian Hornung added: “I am deeply passionate about Somerset and its communities, and I’ve been truly impressed by the achievements of the Minehead One Medicare team. I’m genuinely excited to support and build on this success. I look forward to bringing energy to the role and working collaboratively with colleagues and patients to help shape the next successful chapter for Minehead Medical Centre.”
NHS Somerset and One Medicare are now working through the formalities of the contract signing process.