Private provider beats trusts and GP federation to community contract

The decision was made on 10 August by Guildford and Waverley Clinical Commissioning Group. The alliance contract involves Virgin Care in partnership with Royal Surrey County Hospital Foundation Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership FT, Age UK Surrey and Surrey County Council.

A joint bid for the contract was also made by local GP federation Procare, Sussex Community FT, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Age UK, and Surrey and Surrey and Borders Partnership FT, but it was rejected by the CCG.

The contract will start in April 2017 and will last two years with the option of extending for a further eight under a lead provider contract.

Virgin Care was previously awarded a five year contract to run community services across Surrey, This contract is due to expire in 2017.

The contract is worth £17.6m a year and cover 17 different services, including diabetes services, a minor injuries unit, community nursing and GP direct access physiotherapy.

A spokesman for Royal Surrey County Hospital, which took part in both bids, said the trust was involved in a “supporting capacity with full non-disclosure agreements in place”.

The CCG used a restrictive procurement process.

Vicky Stobbart, executive nurse, director of quality and safeguarding at Guildford and Waverley CCG, said: “The CCG is committed to commissioning high quality, safe, patient and carer centred services that are compassionate, responsive and needs led.

“It is important that we work collaboratively towards achieving improved health and wellbeing for our local population.”