Capita Plc awarded NHS England payments contract

The contract for the Primary Care Support Services (PCSS) has been awarded to UK-based business process outsourcing and professional services company Capita Plc.

The PCSS provides administrative and payment services on behalf of NHS England to primary care practitioners, including optometrists, GPs and dentists.

Capita was announced as the preferred bidder by the PCSS procurement team after it received approval from the Department of Health. 

Katrina Venerus, managing director of the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU) and vice chair of the PCSS stakeholder group, said: “LOCSU and the Optical Confederation have been closely involved in the procurement process through our representatives on the stakeholder group. 

“We are confident that the preferred bidder has listened to our views and that they have the capability and expertise to provide a more streamlined and consistent PCS service in the future.”

“We look forward to working with Capita plc, through the new service management board, to support the transfer of the service and the future service transformation.”

Capita has promised to establish a single provider framework, which would standardise processes for primary care support across the country, and to improve the quality of the service. The final contract will need to be signed by the Department of Health and the Treasury before the deal is completed.

A statement on the Capita Plc website reads: “The four-year sole provider framework has a maximum total value of £1bn. Under the framework, the initial 7–10 year contract for Capita to deliver administrative support services for primary care in England is anticipated to be valued at up to circa £400m, whilst achieving significant savings for NHS England.”