- 1. Legislating for Integrated Care Systems: Provider Selection Regime Consultations
Legislating for Integrated Care Systems: five recommendations to Government and Parliament
includes the Response to Public Consultation on ICS (See Pages 8-22)
The consultation findings are attached above (at 2) and it is disturbing to read some of the NHSE/ NHSI conclusions.
Firstly, the report appears to blur the distinction between what is regarded as an engagement seeking views and a consultation which it was described as on line. It begins by declaring that 5,171 responses from people identifying as members of the public or patients who were concerned with “privatisation” of the NHS in some way, They identified these comments as part of a “national campaign” group ( later named as KONP) which involved speculation about the creation of ICSs! Therefore, they considered them as a single response. So, over 5,000 responses who may or may not have been members/ supporters of KONP, were reduced to one response and treated differently. 5,000 plus responses have been reduced to being described as “speculation” whilst the ” clear opinions” of some of the other 1700 respondents are accepted as having individual validity and are quoted in some detail.
The distinction being drawn between speculation and a clear opinion is disingenuous, How does someone give an opinion unless you do speculate about what the implications or effects may be of any proposal for change? Furthermore, when the white paper does not actually contain much detail because the government and NHSE say they wish to increase flexibility and move away from prescription, what else can you do but speculate on possible outcomes!
Not surprisingly, the majority of comments included from groups such as The Kings Fund, NHS Confederation; NHS Clinical Commissioners etc support the NHSE views with a few perfunctory caveats included for the sake of showing some ” balance”. This then feeds into the claim that 79% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposals ( See Page 3, 1.3; Provider Selection Regime consultation on proposals).
Of course, this blatantly skewed approach to “consultation” is no surprise, as the Local Foundation Trusts/ CCGs used similar tactics during the consultations over Phase 1 of the Path to Excellence and The Urgent Care Review in Sunderland. It continues a growing trend by the NHS and others of discounting the strength of support for particular campaigns by characterising them as being “protest” groups with no real understanding of the issues. Unfortunately, this seems to be a further indicator of the direction of travel these proposals make in regard to governance of ICSs with moves to marginalise local scrutiny and representation and return control of the NHS to government.
The NHS says it proposes that ICS bodies should be statutory public bodies but their legislative recommendations to government provide only that they should have a Chair and a CEO with representation from trusts, GPs and a local authority which could literally mean one representative for all local authorities in the ICS footprint ( there are 12 unitary local authorities in the North East and Cumbria ICS). Other unspecified bodies can also be appointed which could include private sector healthcare providers, management consultants or population health experts. But, of course, that’s speculation!
Developments are now moving on at pace and the NHS has launched another consultation: NHS Provider Selection regime: Consultation on proposals which is due to close on 7th April 2021. This invites responses on developing a bespoke NHS regime to replace the current procurement requirements. You will recall that the White Paper includes the NHSE strategy for bypassing procurement which the MSM heralded as the end of privatisation.
The first question on this engagement/ consultation is:
“Should it be possible for decision-making bodies (eg the clinical commissioning group (CCG), or, subject to legislation, statutory ICS) to decide to continue with an existing provider … without having to go through a competitive procurement process?”
This has obvious advantages in terms of less bureaucracy and administration but if the existing provider is a private health care provider then it does not reduce the privatisation already inherent and makes it more likely that future larger contracts will also go to private companies, particularly if the ICP is able to award one overriding contract. The government and NHS are making great play that this will enable greater flexibility and control locally but without appropriate safeguards being in place it is clear that the way is open for long term commercial contracts of 10-15 years which are already being suggested.
Please will you look at all this and advise about the next steps.
Is the Government’s way of dealing with over 5,000 responses legitimate?
Posted by Jean Smith on behalf of an SHA and KONP member.