External review into handling of contract for autism services
A contract for the care of children with autism is to be the subject of an independent review triggered by NHS England. The review will examine the oversight and management … Read more
commissioning
Preferred bidder announced for £2.25 billion pathology contract
Synlab has been announced as the preferred bidder for a 15 year pathology contract worth £2.25 billion covering a large part of central and south London. The German company has … Read more
Millions paid by NHS England to send patients private over winter
HSJ reports that NHS England and Improvement have allocated millions of pounds to outsource elective and diagnostic work to the independent sector, in an attempt to keep waiting lists down during … Read more
Ambulance service staff ‘in tears’ with jobs ‘at risk’ as private firm awarded patient contract
More than 80 ambulance service staff were left “in tears” and fearing for their jobs after a key patient transport contract in Worcestershire was awarded to the private company E-zec … Read more
In 2018/19 almost three quarters of NHS contract awards were to non-NHS organisations
An analysis of contract awards published from April 2018 to end of March 2019 found that 74% were awarded to non-NHS organisations, which includes private companies, charities and not-for-profit organisations. … Read more
NHS England instigates rule changes for digital providers
New rules from NHS England to be put in place in April 2020 will mean digital-first GP providers will have to set up a clinic in most localities where they … Read more
80 jobs ‘at risk’ at West Midlands Ambulance trust as private firm awarded patient contract
More than 80 staff at the West Midlands Ambulance Trust were ‘in tears’ worried about their jobs as the contract was awarded to private provider, E-zec Medical Transport. West Midlands … Read more
Private midwifery firm delivering NHS contract goes into administration
One to One Midwives – private midwifery firm delivering NHS contract – has gone bust. The company implied that this was influenced by an “unsustainable financial structure” between the NHS … Read more
Private firm’s £25m deal halted by threat of legal action by NHS providers
Halton CCG has abandoned a procurement process for contracts worth £25m following the threat of legal action by local NHS organisations. The CCG had chosen as its preferred bidder to … Read more
NHSE chief executive present during decision not to publish concerning children’s cancer report
Simon Stevens, the NHS England chief executive present when discussion and decision to not publish a 2015 report that brought to light concerns about children’s cancer care in London. Despite … Read more
NHS commissioners ‘failing to do their homework’ says Swindon campaigners
NHS commissioners have given a contract worth approximately £80m to a transport company that councillors have previously branded as “diabolical”. Since June 1, E-Zec have been running non-emergency transport services … Read more
Yes, we should be terrified of US healthcare firms – but wait till you see what’s happening to the NHS already – Tony O’Sullivan
Privatising the NHS is wrong. It’s wrong because it wastes billions of pounds of taxpayers’ hard-earned money, it’s wrong because it has been proven to be less efficient, and it’s … Read more
NHS bosses accused of breaking law in cancer scanning privatisation
Oxfordshire councillors have accused NHS bosses of endangering patients, “flagrant” lawbreaking and intimidating a leading hospital trust over their controversial privatisation of cancer scanning services. The councillors have written a … Read more
The tide is turning against public service privatisation – Richard Vize
The rebellion against privatisation is growing, with the tide moving towards greater public control of key services. The pushback can be seen everywhere. In an excoriating assessment of a flagship … Read more
U-turn over plans to privatise cancer scanning services
NHS bosses have made a significant U-turn over plans to privatise cancer scanning services after outcry from MPs, doctors and patients. The rethink means the two scanners used for the … Read more
NHS removes cervical screening contract from Capita
NHS chiefs are bringing the cervical screening service back in-house after expressing dissatisfaction at the way it has been performing. The chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, told the … Read more
CQC – Signs of improvement but concerns remain about the safety and quality of independent ambulance services
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is calling on independent ambulance services, commissioners and the wider system to do more to make sure patients are safe, following concerns identified during its … Read more
Trio of private providers fight for £2.2bn London contract
Three bidders have been shortlisted for one of the biggest NHS pathology contracts, HSJ can reveal. Last September, the South East London pathology programme board launched a procurement for a new provider … Read more
‘Unaffordable’ urgent care procurement halted
Procurement of urgent treatment centres and GP out-of-hours services across two clinical commissioning groups has been discontinued – because the money on offer was not enough to attract providers. Swale … Read more
NHS chiefs tell Theresa May it is time to curb privatisation
NHS leaders want Theresa May to scrap Conservative legislation that forces the tendering of contracts for care, in a move which could dramatically reduce privatisation of key health services. In … Read more
