Trust launches High Court challenge over contract loss

Humber Foundation Trust confirmed yesterday it had asked the High Court to halt the procurement process and consider the criteria used by East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group to award the contract to a rival bidder. The trust is the CCG’s current provider of community services.

The Hull Daily Mail reported that the contract, set to begin in April 2017, was worth £30m and had been awarded to City Health Care Partnership, but the CCG would not reveal the successful bidder.

Humber said it made a “very good and solid bid” but was unable to retain the community services contract.

Interim chief executive Michele Moran said the trust had passed the case to the High Court.

She added: “This is not a position we have taken lightly, however the tender process is a legal one and this is the only way to continue the dialogue about how the best services are provided for patients and service users in East Riding.

“We do not expect patient care to be affected during this process. It will be business as usual.”

The contract decision is a further blow to the struggling trust, which was rated inadequate for safety by the Care Quality Commission in August, but judged requires improvement overall.

East Riding CCG’s director of commissioning and transformation, Alex Seale, said it was unable to comment on the legal challenge before it was concluded.

She confirmed a preferred bidder had been chosen and said the procurement had been conducted in a “fair, open and transparent manner”.

She added: “As with any procurement exercise, the bidder who was not successful has the right to challenge the final decision.”

Ms Seale also confirmed Humber had issued proceedings in the High Court to halt the process.