26.02.13
Monitor could force CCGs to introduce competition – RCM
The Royal College of Midwives has accused the Government of backtracking on key assurances made during the passage of the Health & Social Care Act, since new regulations “could effectively open up all NHS services to competitive tendering”.
The NHS (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) Regulations 2013 made under section 75 of the Act are being considered by the House of Lords Legislation Scrutiny Committee on March 5.
The RCM said that any discretion open to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) over what services are open to competition “appears to have disappeared from the regulations…Indeed, Monitor seems to have been given the power to compel CCGs to introduce competition despite a specific assurance that Monitor would not have such a power”.
Jon Skewes, director for policy, employment relations and communications at the RCM, said: “I am deeply disappointed with the Government because they seem to have promised one thing and delivered the opposite. We were repeatedly assured by ministers that compulsory competitive tendering would not be imposed on organisations commissioning maternity services. The regulations as they stand will mean that this is exactly what will happen.
“I call upon peers and MPs to look at these regulations very carefully. Continuity of care is vital in maternity services if we are to have safe and high quality care. I fear that the fragmented service that these regulations could lead to will mean poorer care for women, babies and their families.”
When it published the regulations, the Department of Health said: “These regulations are to help ensure that commissioners’ decisions on buying clinical services are transparent and fair, and that they improve the quality and efficiency of health care services for patients.”
DH guidance notes on the regulations are available here.
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]