A PRIVATE provider has been selected for a £6m contract to provide out-of-hours health services in the Whitby area.
Virgin Care has been chosen as the preferred bidder to run community and out-of-hours services in Whitby and the surrounding area.
The procurement process for the seven-year contract was led by commissioners NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (HRW CCG) who assessed the bidders on their ability to deliver services.
The CCG said the £6m a year contract was out for tender because current service providers, York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, gave notice on its contract.
Virgin Care has pledged a range of proposals, including rapid assessment for fail and elderly residents to help community teams manage patients in their own home for as long as possible. It is also proposing more “streamlined” district nursing involving mobile working, continuity of medical cover and the creation of Neighbourhood Care Team – range of clinical individuals working together to provide care for people in the community.
Virgin Care will provide the services from July 1.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here