Provider Selection Regime Toolkit Products

The NHS Long Term Plan aimed to enhance health and care services in England to meet increasing demands, improve outcomes, and achieve financial stability. The Health and Care Act 2022 introduced the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) to create integrated care systems and encourage collaboration among health and care service providers. The PSR replaces previous procurement rules, allowing relevant authorities flexibility in selecting healthcare providers. It emphasizes transparency, fairness, and value for money.

The PSR offers three provider selection processes: direct award processes (A, B, C), most suitable provider process, and competitive process. Each process has specific conditions and is designed to cater to different scenarios, promoting efficiency and user-centric care. The PSR supports fair and transparent decision-making through record-keeping, clear communication of intentions, decision records, a standstill period for review, and a mechanism for independent review.

Relevant authorities, including integrated care boards, NHS England, local authorities, and NHS trusts, must adopt the PSR and follow guidelines to organise health care and public health services. The PSR applies to various providers, excluding goods and non-healthcare services unless part of mixed procurement. Adherence to key criteria such as quality, value, collaboration, and social value is essential for decision-making.

Organisations can use NHS England's implementation tools to apply the PSR effectively. The emphasis on transparent, fair, and proportionate behaviour aligns with the 2022 Act's goal of integrating service delivery through collaboration in the NHS and with local government. The PSR aims to streamline processes, reduce bureaucracy, and ensure better outcomes for healthcare services in England.