Cost savings could see children's health services

CHILDREN'S health services in Devon could be privatised as part of a national savings NHS policy. The three-year £130million deal would see services in Newton Abbot, the South Hams and Teignbridge handled by a private company. These could include health visiting, school nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, safeguarding, children and adolescent mental health, short breaks services, learning disability, and complex nursing services for children such as palliative nursing. NHS Devon and Devon County Council said child protection and children's social work would not be outsourced. The transfer of services to a private, profit-making firm is part of the national transforming community services programme, which began in April, 2009, and required all primary care trusts to become commissioning-only organisations with no direct provision of services by April, 2011. A spokesman for NHS Devon said that under a formal agreement, Devon County Council has managed integrated children's services on behalf of NHS Devon since April, 2011. However, the arrangement was for an interim two-year period pending the re-commissioning of the service to find the long-term provider. Three groups of bidders are understood to have thrown their names in the ring: Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Barnados, Young Devon and Interserve on one side, Serco and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and, finally, Assura Medical which is effectively Virgin Care after Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson bought a 75 per cent, £4million stake in the company. Detractors said the scheme, the first in the country, would lead to a privatisation of the NHS and end free health care for all. The NHS Devon spokesman said the aim was to 'improve local services to deliver the best integrated community-based health and social care for children and young people in Devon'. Jayne Carroll, director of strategic commissioning at NHS Devon, said: "Our aim is to secure the best possible service and improve health outcomes for younger people while continuing to strengthen integrated community-based health and social care." The tender process is in its fourth and final stage. NHS Devon and DCC originally sought expressions of interest in September, 2011. The final evaluation will take place during May with a recommendation for the award of the contract being made in June.