ICB Rubber Stamped ex-CDO's £11m Scheme
- Details
- Published: Tuesday, 01 August 2023 07:43
- Written by Peter Ingle
- Hits: 2017
GDPUK has seen a report containing remarkable details of the procurement process for the University of Suffolk dental project.
For those concerned about how scarce funding has been allocated as well as the transparency of the ICB’s commissioning process, it makes for uncomfortable reading.
With 12.5 million pounds committed over five years, the Suffolk Scheme, which is strongly linked to the former English Chief Dental Officer, could be a popular template. Other ICBs will also be trying to find applications for their share of the estimated 500 million pounds of dental clawback money. In Suffolk ex CDO Sara Hurley is a director of both the University Limited Company, and the dental CIC.
Entitled “Update on dentistry services in Suffolk” the report was prepared on behalf of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) and NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (N&W ICB). It was presented to the Health Scrutiny Committee of July 12th.
The report begins by outlining the importance of oral health and current problems with dental access. There is a section which sets out the severity of the problems faced in Suffolk and Norfolk and Waveney. There then follows a series of items headed, “Current Programmes of Work in SNEE ICB”. This runs through thirteen items including contract variations, a children’s dental health education initiative, access information, and record sharing. Last of all is, “Establishment of Additional NHS Dentistry Provision.”
This reveals that the ICB Executive Committee considered options for dental services to Suffolk and North East Essex in January 2023. They approved the commissioning of a “nationally unique medium to long term solution to the dental crisis” which would offer training and education as well as “universal access to NHS dentistry to all those who want or need it.” It would also accommodate overseas dentists completing the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE). Commissioning would be via a PDS agreement which would allow “flexibility and innovation.”
On March 6th 2023 the Executive Committee were presented with the service specification and set of procurement options. The decision was taken to issue a Prior Information Notice (PIN). This has the effect that if only one provider expresses interest a direct award is made. The PIN was issued on March 9th and closed on March 31st, being open for just 15 full working days.
In total three organisations expressed an interest in providing the services. Those organisations were contacted once the PIN had closed and asked to confirm that they were in a position to deliver the service specification. Only one organisation confirmed they would be able to deliver the service specification.
Following the report, the contract was time tabled for approval by the SNEE ICB Board on 25 July 2023. The report of July 16th stated that the associated Centre for Dental Development, offering training and education, would commence in January 2024 and it was already fully subscribed. The local press were told that NHS patients would begin to be seen by the project from winter 2023.
The report earlier states that, “The delivery of the service specification will support the Suffolk and North East Essex ICB vision for dentistry.”
The project has been rushed through at great speed, with a questionable tendering process, and a lack of any competition. Many local dentists were unaware of the process and it appears that there is no evidence that using any part of the budget to work with local practices to improve access was considered. To suggest that this is the only, let alone best way to provide routine and urgent dental care to the populations of Suffolk and North East Essex stretches credibility to new lengths.
Note:
A Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice was issued on 18 April 2023, to notify all potential suppliers / providers of the ICBs intention to award the contract (subject to ICB Board approval). The VEAT Notice was live and open to challenge for 10 days (until 28 April 2023). No challenges were received.
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