The Cooperation and Competition Panel (CCP) has decided to take no further action in relation to the conduct complaint involving NHS Great Yarmouth & Waveney. This decision follows the CCP receiving notification from the Department of Health that NHS Great Yarmouth & Waveney must cease its current procurement for community services.
Gary Belfield, director general , Commissioning and System Management at the Department of Health had written to the chair of the CCP confirming his discussions with colleagues in NHS East of England regarding the need for primary care trusts (PCTs) in the region to suspend procurements for community services. This follows the publication of new Transforming Community Services guidance in February 2010. The agreement with NHS East of England is that all PCTs, including Great Yarmouth & Waveney, must cease any ongoing procurements for community services, in light of the new guidance.
The implication of this guidance is that PCT boards are required to review their plans for future provision of community services and secure Department of Health ‘approval in principle’ on direction of travel for their preferred option, against published criteria.