About The Primary Care Partnership
Our Team
The Primary Care Partnership Ltd specialises in primary care consultancy. We are committed to supporting and developing excellence in primary care and pride ourselves on building strong and lasting relationships with our clients.
The company was formally established in May 2011 as the successor organisation to the consultancy division of Acton Shapiro which was established by Chris Acton in 1996. The organisational structure has been put in place to meet the challenges of the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, and to allow us to support charitable causes recommended to us by clients.
Joanne Bartlett
Managing Director
I am Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Primary Care Partnership, and a highly experienced NHS business consultant.
My career began at Berkshire Primary Care Trust, where I worked alongside primary care providers as Performance Manager. My passion lay in working collaboratively with providers to share good practice and drive quality improvement.
I moved out of the NHS and into healthcare consultancy with Acton Shapiro in Yorkshire in 2008. This is where I met Chris, and three years later we established The Primary Care Partnership.
Over 15 years, I’ve been involved in a huge variety of research and consultancy projects in health and care, particularly primary care. I was involved as author of the updated Primary and Social Care Planning and Design Guidance (HBN11-01). My passion lies in developing a strong team approach to the development and drafting of bids, business cases, business plans and strategies. Projects have also included contract implementation, performance audits and service development.
Outside The Primary Care Partnership, I love spending time with my family and in the great outdoors. I also have a creative streak and love painting and craft of any sort.
Chris Acton
Associate Director
I’m an experienced NHS business consultant now working in an associate capacity to allow me more time to pursue my involvement as Treasurer of the charity Accomplish Children’s Trust.
My career started in the voluntary sector, and from 1989 to 1995 I was a non-medical partner at a large GP practice in North Yorkshire. In 1996 I formed Acton Shapiro Consultancy and Research and later The Primary Care Partnership with Joanne in 2011.
I have a postgraduate qualification in Health Economics and have been involved in developing the Department of Health’s Primary and Social Care Planning and Design Guidance, giving management support to GP practices, and developing Strategic Service Development Plans. I have vast experience in project managing capital investment and in preparing feasibility and option appraisals, service planning and procurement.
Our Partners
Partners and associates
Richard Banyard
Associate
Richard has extensive operational, managerial and commissioning experience at all levels in the NHS, as well as overseas. This includes more than 30 years in the NHS, over 10 years at Board level – including Chief Executive and various director positions including as LIFT Director and Director of Commissioning.
Richard is also experienced in teaching, conference presentations, examining and writing, with over 20 publications in professional journals. He is also a qualified Further Education teacher and has headed-up a part-time Foundation Degree programme in Health Services Management at Hull College for local NHS staff. His academic qualifications include a Masters Degree in Health Services Management from the University of Leeds and a Post Graduate Certificate In Education from the University of Huddersfield.
Robert Ward
Associate
Rob has extensive experience in bid writing for NHS Contracts, across providers including NHS Trusts, Social Enterprises, Charities, GP Partnerships and Private Sector organisations. He has worked across a range of services, including primary, community, acute and mental health, with particular expertise in primary and urgent care, as well as sexual health.
Rob’s others skills include project management, research and developing Urgent Care service models.
Bryan Wooten
Wooten Dean Chartered Surveyors
Wootten Dean Chartered Surveyors (https://woottendean.co.uk/) is an established property consultancy led by Bryan who has over 20 years’ experience of providing professional valuation and development advice to clients within the NHS environment. Bryan has a deep understanding of the specialist investment market for GP surgeries and other primary and social care assets and frequently advises NHS clients through the process of developing new premises, providing development appraisals to ensure scheme viability and negotiating occupational terms on behalf of clients. Bryan advises NHS Trusts, commissioners, GP Practices and property developers throughout England and Wales.