GP Partnership Disputes – Cheema v Jones

We look at a recent Court of Appeal decision in relation to GP partnership disputes. The case illustrates the importance of having clarity about the basis on which a partnership conducts its affairs.

Partnership agreements

Two GPs, A and B, entered a partnership to provide medical services under a GMS contract. The terms of the contract were set out in a signed agreement in April 2016.

Shortly thereafter, they agreed with doctors C, D and E to form a new partnership to provide the service under the GMC contract. They agreed that the new partnership would commence from 1 July 2016. They instructed solicitors to prepare a new partnership agreement which was to include a unanimity requirement for decision-making.