The decision over which organisation will run community health services across Kirklees has been made but the name of the winner will not be revealed for a few more days.
Health managers are finalising details of the £238m Care Closer to Home contract but the governing bodies of North Kirklees NHS CCG and Greater Huddersfield CCG which plan and buy health services have decided on a ‘preferred bidder’.
However, due to the laws around procurement, the name of the successful organisation cannot be revealed until on or after May 27.
But it is no secret which two organisations the bosses were choosing between – existing contract holder Locala Community Partnerships and a consortium headed by hospital chiefs at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
The trust has joined forces with Mid Yorkshire Hospital Trust, the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice and two GP federations based in Huddersfield, Rowan Healthcare Ltd and PHH.
The scheme will take on and develop further the services currently operated by Locala – including community nursing, health visitors, speech and language therapy, foot care and physiotherapy.
The contract, which was initially valued at £285m, is now said to be worth £238.4m.
A spokeswoman for both clinical commissioning groups said: “The governing bodies of NHS North Kirklees CCG and NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG, which are the organisations responsible for planning and buying health services, have decided on a preferred bidder to provide a range of community-based services across the Kirklees area.
“Due to procurement rules, the name of the preferred bidder cannot be disclosed until all bidders have been informed of the CCGs’ intention to award the contract and a 10-day ‘standstill’ period has come to an end. This is likely to be on or after May 27.”
The contract will be for at least five years with the possibility of it being extended for a further two.
