This afternoon, Shropshire health chiefs announced that there has been a formal challenge to the award of the out of hours GP contract to Medvivo, a Wiltshire based private company. This would have led to the end of ShropDoc, a cooperative of local GPs, that has served Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin well since 1996.
We don’t know the basis of the challenge to the contract award to Medvivo or who is making it. But no one would be surprised if it turns out ShropDoc has made the challenge.
Below is the media release from Shropshire health chiefs.
Extension of Standstill Period for the GP Out of Hours Procurement Process
To provide an update on the procurement process for the GP Out of Hours Service for the county, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has received representation in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This has resulted in an extension of the standstill period.
It’s important to note that this extension does not signal a pause in the re-procurement process. Representation is a key component of the Provider Selection Regime and the legal framework that underpins this process. The flowchart below illustrates the steps involved and has been lifted from the Frequently Asked Questions document for this work.
From the very beginning, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has been committed to delivering a high-quality, value-for-money out-of-hours service that meets the needs of our local communities. The service specification remains unchanged, and the re-procurement is not a cost-cutting measure. It will continue to be a locally provided service, staffed by local clinicians, with face-to-face appointments forming a core element and remaining available at the out of hours bases and via home visits.
Commissioners are currently reviewing representation and will provide further guidance on next steps as soon as possible.
For more information on the process to date, please visit: General Practice (GP) Out of Hours Service on the NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin website.
