NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney is one of the first health trusts in the country to invite tenders for its community services.The process is expected to start in December and bids will be open to the NHS, but not the private sector.
NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney is one of the first health trusts in the country to invite tenders for its community services.
The process is expected to start in December and bids will be open to the NHS, but not the private sector.
Earlier this year the Department of Health announced plans to strengthen the commissioning power of primary care trusts (PCTs) while improving competition and increasing patient choice.
As a result every PCT in the country is changing its organisational shape and separating out services that provide patient care so that PCTs can act solely as commissioning bodies rather than service providers.
At a meeting, NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney's board agreed a recommendation to proceed with a procurement process restricted to NHS organisations only, which will be encouraged to collaborate with independent and voluntary sector partners.
Dr Sushil Jathanna, NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney chief executive, said: “Our priority has always been to make sure that the services we commission provide the best possible care for our patients.
“We will be inviting tenders from fellow NHS organisations, who we will then encourage to work in closer partnership with the voluntary and independent sectors.
“This process will encourage competition to help drive up quality within the NHS. As a result, we can make sure the community services we buy for our population will draw upon the best possible knowledge and experience from across all health sectors.”
NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney will now submit its revised procurement plan for community services to NHS East of England for approval. It is hoped the new provider will be in place by the middle of 2010.
Dr Stephen Dunn, director of strategy with NHS East of England, said: “NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney is taking a bold decision to attract the best NHS providers to help them transform community services for the benefit of patients, the public and taxpayers. It will help accelerate their ambition to become world class commissioners and deliver world class services for the people of Great Yarmouth and Waveney.”
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