Commissioning and procurement of secure mental health services by North West Specialised Commissioning Group: Investigation of a complaint by Hanover Healthcare

Hanover Healthcare (the trading name of Revona LLP) asked the CCP to assess whether the North West Specialised Commissioning Group (NWSCG) had acted inconsistently with the Principles and Rules for Cooperation and Competition (Principles and Rules) by its use of a commissioning framework which does not provide Hanover Healthcare with an opportunity to supply services until 2013.

The CCP assessed the issues under the conduct and procurement provisions of the Principles and Rules and decided that the conduct of NWSCG was likely to give rise to material net costs to patients and taxpayers and therefore breached the Principles and Rules (see CCP advice, 19 November 2010).

On 19 November 2010, the CCP invited submissions from interested individuals and organisations on suitable remedies to address the concerns identified. On 16 December 2010, the CCP made certain recommendations to the Secretary of State for Health that it considered would remedy the concerns identified in its advice.