The procurement of NHS dental services – a guide

Abstract

This paper gives an overview of the strategic background for procurement of NHS primary care dental services and an outline of the processes involved in procurement. The main aim is to bring procurement to the attention of a wider audience of dental practitioners and provide advice for potential primary care dental service providers. The move towards local procurement of healthcare services, including primary care dental services, has been shaped by a number of strategic Government publications and is supported by law. In line with other public bodies, the NHS is subject to the European Union and international rules regarding procurement and awarding contracts. Primary Care Trust (PCT) Dental Service Commissioners have to ensure that their procurement strategy is transparent and non-discriminatory so that all providers have an equal opportunity to compete for contracts. In order to successfully tender for future service provision contracts, dental practitioners not only need to be aware of the process of procurement and its associated legal requirements. It is also important that they have a grasp of the expectations of PCTs. Commissioning services via procurement is set to become more commonplace and it is likely, in time, that competition for some contracts will increase in intensity. The importance of researching proposals thoroughly and adopting a professional, businesslike approach to tendering cannot be understated as this maximises chance of success in the new commissioning environment.