As of Wednesday, 13 June 2018 it was agreed by the seven Sussex CCGs accountable officers and clinical chairs to stop the NHS 111/Clinical Assessment Service procurement for Sussex with immediate effect.
Having learnt lessons from previous procurement exercises, it was felt that the current process could not continue.
Dr Victoria Beattie, Clinical Lead for the NHS 111 Programme says: ‘We have to get this model right for our patients and local population. Making sure we procure a high quality and safe service is paramount’.
The plan and the intention to have an improved 111 service for local residents is still a commitment from the CCGs in Sussex; what now needs to be considered is how the new service is put in place contractually.
Please be assured that it is the re-procurement process of the new NHS 111/CAS that is stopping and not the current service received by patients.
The commissioners across Sussex are in the process of agreeing next steps with the current NHS 111 (South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust) and GP Out of Hours (Integrated Care 24) providers to ensure continuity of service for patients after 1 April 2019.
For further information you can email the NHS 111 Transformation Team at: cwsccg.sussex111transformation@nhs.net