CAPITA SELECTED AS PREFERRED SUPPLIER BY NHS NORTH MERSEY COLLABORATION

CAPITA SELECTED AS PREFERRED SUPPLIER BY NHS NORTH MERSEY COLLABORATION

The Capita Group Plc announces today that it has been appointed as preferr ed supplier by a NHS North Mersey collaboration to deliver HR, payroll and recruitment services for up to 12 NHS trusts in Mersey. The seven year contract worth up to A327 million, with an option to extend for a further three years, will start rolling out by the end of the year.

The NHS North Mersey collaboration comprises 12 NHS trusts, but, under thi s framework agreement, other trusts from across the Northwest could procur e their HR, payroll and recruitment functions from Capita. The contract is expected to involve the TUPE transfer of up to 150 employees to Capita an d the set up of new shared service centre based in Liverpool, thereby keep ing jobs in Merseyside.

Commenting on the announcement, Alan Bailey, managing director for Capita' s HR business, said: ''This is the first time NHS trusts have come togethe r in this way to collectively outsource their HR, payroll and recruitment functions. As a result of this landmark agreement, the trusts will gain access to Capita's broader HR expertise and investment in order to achieve a modern and cost effective service. This will better enable NHS trusts i n Mersey to focus on the important task of treating patients and delivering a high quality health service to the local community."

Raj Jain, chair of NHS North Mersey HR collaboration, commented; "As a par t of the national QIPP programme, NHS trusts across North Merseyside are w orking together to make the local healthcare system more efficient, so as to ensure that we provide the very best service for patients. This deal with Capita exemplifies this partnered approach in order to modernise services and make savings. I hope that over the course of the partnership more N HS trusts across the Northwest will buy into the framework and take advantage of the expected savings generated from outsourcing their HR, payroll or recruitment functions."