IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Description

The IT Service for Rotherham GPs was originally established by Rotherham PCT and transferred to The Rotherham Foundation Trust (TRFT), as part of the transforming community services initiative, in 2011. Subsequently the IT Service was commissioned from TRFT by Rotherham PCT until disestablishment of the organisation in 2013. Since the formation of NHS Rotherham CCG on 1.4.2013, IT Services for general practices and the CCG have been provided by TRFT through an SLA funded by the CCG. The current SLA expires on 31.3.2020. NHS Rotherham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) (the ‘Authority') intends to extend contract without competition during the period 1.4.2020 — 31.3.2025 to the incumbent provider as detailed below: The Rotherham Foundation Trust (TRFT) Moorgate Rd, Rotherham S60 2UD. Since the formation of NHS Rotherham CCG (RCCG) on 1.4.2013, IT Services for general practices and the CCG have been provided by TRFT through an SLA funded by the CCG. The current SLA expires on 31.3.2020. The TRFT IT Service is an integrated service that, in addition to providing IT for all Rotherham general practices and the CCG, also provides the services for TRFT (acute and community) and Rotherham Hospice. The TRFT IT service provides a full range of services, including support services, IT infrastructure and system development. The continuation of the service is clinically supported on the basis that it continues to support the strategic direction of integration of care through the provision of a unified IT infrastructure and the service’s shared care record system – The Rotherham Health Record. Rotherham Place partners value the quality of the service and see the continued provision of an integrated IT service as a key enabler for the delivery of the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan. The proposal to extend the IT SLA with TRFT is aligned with the principles in the recently published ‘The NHS’s recommendations to Government and Parliament for an NHS Bill’ in that it aims to support speedier implementation of the 10 year NHS long term plan through closer collaboration between commissioners, providers and local government. The extension of the IT SLA allows for the continuation of a well embedded IT Service across the Rotherham Place. The service provided works across both primary and secondary care. This is the main reason for the justification to make a direct award of contract, as a procurement approach via tender would be seen as a risk to fragmenting a fully integrated service. Rotherham CCG is therefore of the view that it is in the best interest of the patients of Rotherham to make a direct award of contract to the hospital. Further rationale supporting this view is: — the Rotherham Place Plan has a vision for integrated services supported by joined up information. Support for the integration of services and information is enhanced by the provision of IT services from a common supplier. The Rotherham Place Plan identifies that ‘our model of one provider for acute, community and GP IT has facilitated a coordinated approach’ to the delivery of the IT Services and the Rotherham Health Record system. A change of IT Service provider would destabilise the existing system and is therefore not consistent with the place plan, — TRFT develop and maintain the Rotherham Health Record system on behalf of the Rotherham Place through the arrangement with Rotherham CCG. The potential transfer of IT Services to another provider could impact on the existing arrangement and jeopardise future delivery of the system at a time when wider rollout into general practice, social care and mental health services is being actively promoted, — the shared IT service arrangement between the CCG and TRFT also supports the delivery of IT services to the Trust. If this service was transferred, reduction of staff reduced operating budget could destabilise the whole integrated IT service. This could also negatively impact on delivery of the patients of Rotherham and it’s health record, — the organisations share some IT infrastructure and common network configuration. The transfer of the service to another provider would highly likely create service disruption and cost for GPs, the CCG and TRFT at a time when NHS budgets are stretched, this finance could be redirected to supporting patient care, — recent exercises carried out in neighbouring areas have identified that there is limited choice for adequate alternative IT service provision.