Securing best value for NHS patients - Requirements for commissioners to adhere to good procurement practice and protect patient choice
Overview
The Department is consulting on our proposals for the regulations for commissioners to be made under Section 75 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
The purpose of the regulations is to protect patients’ interests by ensuring that best value is always delivered by commissioners. The consultation sets out proposals for requirements to:
- ensure good procurement practice by commissioners including requirements to act transparently, avoid discrimination and purchase services from the providers best placed to meet patients’ needs;
- ensure that commissioners enable patients to exercise their rights to choose as set out in the NHS Constitution;
- prohibit commissioners from taking actions which restrict competition where this is against patients’ interests;
- ensure that commissioners manage conflicts of interest and that particular interests do not influence their decision-making.