"You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you."
Brian Tracy, Author
As federations evolve and start to provide services, they will undoubtedly face the need to participate in an NHS procurement exercise. Whether or not a full competitive procurement is undertaken in relation to particular types of service appears to vary from CCG to CCG.
In our experience this depends partly on the particular CCG's attitude to risk and partly on the advice they receive from their Commissioning Support Unit's Procurement Team about the need for a tender process. Perhaps not unsurprisingly, if the Procurement Team are asked whether or not there needs to be a competitive tender, the answer is usually a cautious "yes". But a formal competitive procurement exercise may not be needed in every situation. Depending on circumstances including the nature of the service involved, a more streamlined process may be permissible and, indeed, preferable.
To ensure that the best-placed providers are selected by means of the most appropriate and efficient process, the key is therefore for federations, and equally for CCGs, to get to grips with the regulations and the principles behind them.
The best way to achieve that outcome is to get proper advice. For that reason we recommend you might want to consider attending a FREE OF CHARGE seminar on this very topic in Newcastle on 23rd October with Sarah Podesta and Alison Oliver from Ward Hadaway.
Full details for the workshop are contained in the following link: https://www.wardhadaway.com/events/commissioning-contracting-dos-donts/
This workshop is a perfect opportunity for both federations and CCGs to gain a better understanding of the NHS procurement regime, and how their organisations can work together for mutual benefit without breaching the rules.
Next time we will explore the board role in communicating with Member Practices to keep them fully engaged with the board, and of course providing feedback to you.
For more information on how BW Medical Accountants can support you in forming a federation, or to arrange to speak to one of our experts please contact enquiry@bw-medical.co.uk or call 0191 653 1022.
Additionally, if you should have questions for us please email rachael.mackay@bw-medical.co.uk and we will do our best to answer these within the blog.