Hospital pathology services
28 February 2014
Health Care
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have today (28 February 2014) announced that IPP (Integrated Pathology Partnerships) is the preferred bidder to work with them to provide hospital pathology services in south Essex.
The trusts have for some time been working together to explore
how best to bring the two services together to provide sustainable,
locally led hospital based pathology services across the south
Essex area.
Following the decision taken in June 2013 to enter a competitive
dialogue procedure, this week the boards of both organisations
agreed a full business case to form a joint venture with IPP, which
will see them work to deliver the full range of laboratory services
together.
Clinical staff will continue to interpret results and give all
clinical advice at their respective NHS trusts.
The move will secure the quality of local pathology services,
while maximising economies of scale to ensure the south Essex
pathology service remains competitive, efficient, professional and
safe, in the current climate of greater freedom to compete for the
provision of NHS services.
Following this announcement, in accordance with European
procurement law, a ten day standstill period has commenced, where
the final stages of completion will take place and further details
on the project will then be available.
Clare Panniker, chief executive of Basildon and Thurrock
Hospitals and Jacqueline Totterdell, chief executive at Southend
Hospital said: "We are delighted to have agreed this joint venture
as we believe this move will bring additional expertise, innovation
and experience to the service and put it in the best possible
position to bid for future contracts such as local community
pathology services.
"We would reassure all interested parties that all clear and
definite advantages to this project have been fully assessed to
enable us to meet our overall objective of maintaining and securing
a high quality and sustainable pathology service for our local
population."
Stuart Quin, chief executive of iPP, said: "We are delighted to
have been selected as the preferred bidder to provide pathology
services in partnership with Southend University Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust and Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust. We look forward to working with both trusts in
the development and delivery of a high quality service for
patients."