20.04.12
NHS shared services now run by Serco
Serco has taken over a major NHS shared services organisation in eastern England.
Anglia Support Partnership (ASP), which currently employs about 600 people and is one of the biggest such organisations in the country, will have its future “secured” under the £120m four-year deal, according to trust bosses.
ASP provides financial services, IT, employment services, primary care services, procurement and contracts management, informatics, risk, estates and catering to many trusts in the region.
In a press statement, ASP said: “This new contract will see Serco assume responsibility for delivering ASP’s existing range of support services to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) and its partners, as well as to about 50 other public and private organisations. Organisations currently using ASP’s services won’t see any change in services during the transitional stage and ASP is keen to stress its ‘business as usual’. ASP staff will see their terms and conditions protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) - TUPE - regulations. In a landmark agreement, Serco has also secured an agreement with the NHS Pensions Agency that will see staff NHS pensions also protected.”
Any organisation in the MidlandsEast SHA cluster region will be able to access its services.
Dr Attila Vegh, Chief Executive of CPFT, said: “We consider Serco to be the ideal strategic partner and one that can offer the investment that's vital to keep ASP’s services at the cutting edge. Capitalising on the strengths and track record of ASP, we are looking forward to seeing Serco modernise systems and invest in infrastructure, while seizing other opportunities for growing the business. This allows CPFT to concentrate on delivering high-quality health and social care that promotes well-being and independence and which we are proud to recommend to our families and communities.”
Jonathan Prew, Serco's managing director for global services for theUK andEurope public sector, promised a smooth transition to minimise disruption.
He said: “We will be seeking to build on the great foundation that exists and improve service quality as well as providing guaranteed cost savings to the members of the Anglia Support Partnership.”
Éoin Clarke, the blogger and health commentator who came to prominence during the debates over the NHS reforms, said the small print of the ASP deal was “horrifying” and said: “Instead of Serco being beholden to the NHS Trusts… [they] will now be at the mercy of Serco.”