NHS England halts £300m digital framework after legal claim
Necessary approvals process and contract award have been postponed
NHS England (NHSE) has suspended £300 million Digital Pathways Framework aimed at bolstering GP services nationwide following the emergence of a claim against the process.
"The authority would like to notify bidders of a delay in the award of the framework," NHSE said in a message to suppliers this week, according to HSE.
It added that the new framework had been placed under automatic suspension pending resolution of a claim against it.
Digital Pathways Framework is part of a set of frameworks aimed at bolstering contemporary general practice through the provision of standardised, guaranteed and interoperable digital systems tailored for primary care environments.
It is poised to replace the expiring Digital First Online Consultation and Video Consultation framework, scheduled to lapse in March.
The new framework is designed to facilitate seamless connections between integrated care boards (ICBs) and approved digital service suppliers for tools including messaging, consultations and care navigation. It has a total procurement value estimated at £297 million over an initial term of 12 months and a potential extension of 36 months.
The framework was initially slated for a full launch in August, with supplier contracts to be awarded shortly after, but the timeline has been beset by delays.
The tender, which closed in November, also faced setbacks previously, prompting NHSE to push back its anticipated availability to December.
While the specifics of the claim against the process remain shrouded in mystery, NHSE has been forced to halt progress the framework until the matter is resolved.
A spokesperson for NHSE confirmed the situation, stating that the necessary approvals process and contract award have been postponed as a result of the claim.
The abrupt suspension has sparked frustration among ICBs, with concerns raised over the potential impact on local primary care recovery efforts.
One source stated apprehension, citing the delay as a potential hindrance to local primary care recovery.
Frimley ICB expressed similar sentiments in board papers, highlighting the constraints posed by the delayed digital framework on the timely delivery of the recovery plan.
In Somerset, the delay is cited as a barrier to fully leveraging allocated funding, while Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICBs have warned of potential setbacks to implementation plans.
NHSE maintains that funding allocations for the current financial year are independent of the new framework's introduction.
However, despite reassurances, practitioners remain apprehensive, citing the need for clear guidance and support to navigate procurement decisions amidst the evolving digital landscape.
The delayed rollout of the Digital Pathways Framework highlights broader challenges facing the healthcare sector as it seeks to embrace technological advancements amidst budgetary constraints.
Last week, the British Medical Association's General Practitioners Committee called for an "immediate pause" to NHSE's cloud-based telephony project, citing concerns over escalating costs for GP practices.
GP leaders warned that the new project could impose substantial financial burdens on already strained GP practices, with potential additional costs of up to £10,000 per year.