More NHS services open for private providers - report

More NHS services are set to be run by private companies after it was revealed that nine more primary care trusts (PCTs) are planning or are in the process of putting entire care pathways out to tender.

The move, reported by Pulse, the GPs in-house publication, would see nine more PCTs follow the lead taken by NHS East of England in contracting out the entire pathway for various diseases and treatments.

NHS Bassetlaw, NHS Hampshire, NHS Coventry, NHS Calderdale, NHS Brighton and Hove and NHS Outer North East London (a cluster covering four PCTs) are all considering putting entire care pathways out to tender, the article said.

It also noted that several had started discussions with GP commissioners about the move already.

The Pulse report continued to explain that NHS Outer North East London said it would tender out entire care pathways and would ‘provide an outline programme of these once prioritised and agreed with GP consortia and existing service providers'.

NHS Calderdale said it would put intensive care beds out to ‘full competitive tender'.

NHS Bassetlaw said it had already awarded tenders for musculoskeletal and dermatology pathways, worth £680,000 and £775,000 respectively, to NHS providers.

In NHS East of England, private firms, GPs and voluntary-sector providers will be able to bid for a number of pathways, including musculoskeletal, respiratory and elderly care, collectively worth more than £300m.

The continued devolution of NHS services to private providers have left medical practitioners and representatives divided over the possible cost effects and future care provision.