Decision details

To seek approval for the procurement of new contracts for the provision of Primary Care Services.

Approval has been given for the procurement of new contracts for the provision of primary care services across North Yorkshire.

Approval was given for the procurement of new contracts with a total investment of approx. £1.7m Public Health Grant for the provision of Public Health Primary Care Services relating to sexual health, substance use, tobacco control and NHS health checks across North Yorkshire using Direct Award Process B under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, with new arrangements to come into effect from 1st April 2025.

A full range of options have been appraised, based on consideration of both local and national data and evidence. The proposed options enable NYC to continue protecting and improving the health of the North Yorkshire population whilst ensuring good value for money and return-on-investment.

A procurement exercise must be undertaken under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (the ‘PSR’) to ensure continuity of local primary care public health services for sexual health, substance use, tobacco control and NHS Health Checks.

The proposals developed followed a full options appraisal of different delivery models, scopes, and tariff structures for each service. This was informed by a range of information including existing provision and coverage, baselining and benchmarking with other areas, national evidence and data, local performance information, financial modelling and feedback from the market and the wider local health system. This included consideration of the “do minimum” option for each service, i.e., to continue to deliver the mandated services only, however this was discounted as there is high need for the non-mandated services also as part of our duties to protect and promote the health of the population. Not providing these local services through primary care will likely drive demand/need into specialist services for which unit costs are higher, and also services are generally less accessible locally, which risks health protection needs not being met.