Podiatry and diagnostics top AQP list of service priorities

By Gareth Iacobucci | 22 Nov 2011

PCT clusters are to prioritise the tendering of podiatry, adult hearing services and diagnostic care on the open market under any qualified provider (AQP).

Trusts were given until 31 October to submit details to the Department of Health of the three services they are prioritising for opening up under AQP.

Of 18 clusters to respond to Pulse¹s request for details, 11 plan to prioritise podiatry services, while 10 will focus on adult hearing, eight on diagnostics, seven apiece on wheelchair and adult hearing services, and six on psychological therapies.

Four clusters said they would be prioritising musculoskeletal services, while two are prioritising minor oral surgery, and one each is focusing on ophthalmology, adult learning services and dermatology.

Pulse recently reported that the DH was reviewing its policy of opening up community and mental health services under AQP after concerns that it was being Œfoisted¹ on GPs, but for now PCT clusters are pushing ahead.

Dr Michael Dixon, NHS Alliance chair, said: 'The concept of AQP is a good one, but there is a danger that using it for services such as adult hearing could destabilise the local ENT provider. There is also a danger it could wrongfoot local GP commissioners.'

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Anonymous, PCT,

22 Nov 2011

quote:'The concept of AQP is a good one, but there is a danger that using it for services such as adult hearing could destabilise the local ENT provider. There is also a danger it could wrongfoot local GP commissioners.'

For such a good concept there appears to be a few problems even for the NHS Alliance. Its just more capacity in a crowded market - we don't need it and it will just mean that the money gets spread around even more thinly.

PCT Finance Manager

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Anonymous, PCT,

23 Nov 2011

I like AQP - who cares if it's just a rebranded AWP again (which gets you poor value for money, allows private providers to enter the market with a loss leader whilst pushing out and destabilising existing GPSI and NHS Acute providers, allowing few controls over the number of attendances, can increase overall costs by creating a two-tier provision, allows the cherry-picking of 'simple' services with the greatest profit margin, making double-provision not just possible but likely).

And who cares that despite reducing the prominence of competition within the Health Bill, this is being forced as a necessary commissioning exercise for PCTs and Commissioning Groups.

And who cares that in an NHS struggling to meet the stringent savings being requested of it, that we are commissioning new, and in some cases, services that do not need to be prioritised.

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