03.07.13
NHS Direct abandons ‘unsustainable’ NHS 111 contracts
NHS Direct has pulled out of two contracts to provide NHS 111 services because the terms are “financially unsustainable”.
The provider had won 11 of the 46 contracts to provide NHS 111 services, which replaced the NHS Direct number for urgent but non-emergency care on April 1. But the service has seen considerable problems, including calls going unanswered and poor advice from call handlers with no medical knowledge.
Now NHS Direct has cancelled its contracts in North Essex and Cornwall. In a letter to commissioners in the two regions, officials said that: “NHS Direct has no option but to exit from the contract.
“The reason for this is that since the launch of NHS Direct's other 111 services, we have established that the contract terms which NHS Direct had entered into are in fact, financially unsustainable.”
Nick Chapman, chief executive of NHS Direct, added: “In close discussions with Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and North Essex commissioners and NHS England, NHS Direct has concluded that it is not possible to mobilise these two NHS 111 services, and NHS Direct will exit from the contracts.
“The reason for this is that, since the launch of NHS Direct's other NHS 111 services, the trust has established that the contract terms which NHS Direct had entered into are financially unsustainable.We are very aware of the delays this has caused the new NHS 111 service in North Essex and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and we have formally apologised to the commissioners for this.
“This decision does not affect our other NHS 111 contracts. We have worked with NHS England to agree a plan to ensure we can continue to provide safe and stable NHS 111 services in areas where we are already delivering NHS 111, working closely with local commissioners and other NHS providers. Discussions are ongoing with local commissioners, NHS England and NHS TDA about future delivery plans for these services.”
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