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Written question asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 July 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 August 2016. It was answered by Lord Prior of Brampton (Conservative) on Friday, 29 July 2016 on behalf of the Department of Health.

UnitingCare Partnership

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the National Audit Office (NAO) investigation into the collapse of the Uniting Care Partnership Contract in Cambridge and Peterborough, whether they intend to hold to account (1) the Strategic Projects Team, (2) Monitor, and (3) NHS England, for the failings identified in the NAO's report.

Answer

The Department welcomes the National Audit Office (NAO) report. Decisions about the Strategic Projects Team (SPT) are, however, for NHS England. Following an internal review and the NAO report, NHS England identified concerns about the work of the SPT. As a result, the SPT will close and all its ongoing commitments will be reviewed with a view to bringing them to a conclusion.


NHS Improvement advises that it also welcomes the NAO report and is working closely with NHS England and the Department to consider assurance processes for such complex transactions. NHS Improvement further advises that its focus since May has been liaison with the NAO on its report and joint consideration with NHS England of the assurance issues raised.


NHS England confirms that the NAO investigation supports the findings of its previously published independent review. Before the NAO investigation, NHS England had already commissioned a follow-up review focusing on the role of external advisors, the effectiveness of the Gateway review process, and the role of the clinical commissioning group leadership and governing body. This work continues and NHS England expects to publish findings later this summer.

More widely, NHS England has been undertaking assessments of current and planned novel contracts and is developing an assurance framework for contracts of this sort. This is being informed by the findings of the Uniting Care reviews.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL1344
Session
2016-17
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Contracts Accountability Health services Cambridgeshire Monitor NHS England UnitingCare Partnership Strategic Projects Team
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk