DoH announces composition of FESC

The Department of Health (DoH) has announced the names of bodies that will offer support services to the NHS as part of its new Framework for procuring External Support for Commissioners (FESC).

Comprised of 14 bodies that have passed a process of pre-qualification, the framework offers a number of services to primary care trusts (PCTs), including contract management experience and data analysis.

The DoH hopes to reduce resource and costs involved in the contracting of external support to provide trusts with enhanced value for money.

Ivan Lewis, health minister, said: “This new guidance will allow [PCTs] to benefit from a bank of knowledge already built up through the [DoH] procurement process.

“PCTs will be able to work with organisations that are already known and trusted, which will enable them to concentrate their efforts and expertise on providing patient care.”

He added that PCTs will be able to decide whether or not to use the suppliers within the FESC, while all trusts will retain both responsibility and accountability for service management in these areas.

In August 2007, the New Local Government Network issued a pamphlet calling for an increased local authority role where PCTs have failed to provide adequate health services.