Ever since Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) announced its plans to go out to tender for a £1bn, 10 year contract to deliver community health services across the region last year, I’ve raised a number of concerns with the head of the CCG, NHS England and the government.
Throughout the process, unidentified bidders were competing against each other in secret without the full picture of what the local needs are and what services are currently on offer.
My main concern is that people in Bristol South could be left worse off in terms of healthcare compared to what they have now. I have seen no evidence to allay these fears.
This week’s news that the CCG plans to appoint a new provider of services for local people makes for a very uncertain time for patients and staff alike. We will obviously need to see the detail of what this will mean for people in Bristol South.
I will be following the due diligence process closely and will continue to push for more transparency throughout. I want to know more about how healthcare provision will improve for people living in Bristol South as a result of this change.