CfH works on PACS framework for 2012

NHS Connecting for Health says it will have a framework to help trusts re-procure picture archiving and communications systems established by the end of 2012.

The national local service provider contracts for PACS - signed as part of the National Programme for IT in the NHS - are due to expire over the next three years.

CfH has issued a briefing note to the chief executives of the 127 trusts receiving PACS under the national contracts urging them to prepare for the contract expiration.

It says CfH’s goal is to help trusts exercise local choice over their future systems, while ensuring a “safe transition that does not adversely affect patient care or service provision.”

“We also want to help ensure the future service provision is fit-for-purpose and value-for-money,” it says.

The note also says the national PACS programme is currently developing a procurement framework that will be available for trusts to call off against by the end of next year, assuming government approval.

However, the note says that the timeframe for the procurement and implementation of PACS is generally about two years.

The timings suggest that even if trusts decided to use the call-off the agreement when it became available, there would be only a one-year gap between contract and implementation.

To cover this, the briefing note says the national PACS programme is in discussions with current providers about a deal that would allow trusts to exit their national contract later than June 2013 if they wish, and have access to service extensions and ‘transition assistance’ at a ‘reasonable cost’.

Since 2007, CSC has been providing the systems to trusts in the South, North West and West Midlands, while Accenture has been delivering to trusts in the East of England, East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East.

Both of these contracts will expire in June 2013. The Accenture contract was recently called into question when it was revealed the company had been offering trusts a discount if they extended their contract to 2016, which some said did not represent value for money.

BT’s LSP contract for London is due to expire a year later, in June 2014. CfH says chief executives need to take a leading role in preparing for transitions to new systems or contract extensions as they may be involved in approving the future approach and signing off business cases.

It recommends chief executives and other senior decision-makers make an effort to understand the progress within the trust, be confident there is a plan in place, ensure the team is liaising with strategic health authority colleagues and support the transition by responding in a timely way to any approvals that are required.

Some trusts have already begun tendering for the PACS framework. Eleven trusts  across Cheshire and Merseyside launched a collaborative procurement last month.

CfH’s briefing note says procuring as part of such a consortium should be a route trusts consider taking.