The nuts and bolts of the any willing provider model

As an osteopath with considerable experience (14 years) of delivering a clinical service for NHS funded patients in Colchester, I now spend time assisting interested PCTs understand where best to place local osteopaths in pathways such that quality and Vfm agendas are addressed.

My experience of PCTs and AWP contracting is such that very many PCTs tend to rewrite the rules to suit themselves. Some to the extent that they are so far removed from the original AWP concept, that both patient and potential provider will not receive or provide a quality service.

Your comment referring to selection and governance "anecdotal reports suggest PCTs could be more robust in this role" is seriously relevant. I have witnessed a range from one PCT where the holes in the governance sieve are so large my mother-in-law could be a provider through to NEEPCT where the current AWP Pilot Back & Neck Pain service using 15 independent providers from three disciplines is so tightly monitored, the pips squeak - as they should do.

Greg Sharp
Osteopathy – Primary Care
Greg Sharp

Please can you tell me how you get on the list to be a AWP.
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Thanks Robert Affutu-Nartey