Commissioning – what’s going on?
In a new blog for insomniacs, Rachel Rhodes rounds up important issues concerning commissioning, including the Social Value Act review and the Government’s plans to bring the EU Procurement Rules into UK law. Rachel has spotted a really interesting point missed by other commentators. Rachel says, “I was surprised when I spotted in the consultation that the Government isn’t intending to use the new ‘reserve’ power in any healthcare commissioning” This is the power to reserve certain contracts for public sector spin outs/mutuals and possibly other not for profit organisations.
Her surprise is because the UK Government itself lobbied the EU hard for this power. She says that “it isn’t being implemented because it would contradict the NHS Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition Regulations 2013, namely the section that prohibits favouring certain types of provider. These regulations were viewed by many as part of the privatisation agenda, not least because of the duty to promote competition”.