NHS Arden, Greater East Midlands, North Yorkshire and Humber, West and South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Commissioning Support Units (CSUs) are to form an alliance to help deliver “market-leading, cost-effective services that meet the needs of our customers”. The CSUs have been keen to ensure that the agreement is seen as an alliance, and not a merger, and are in the process of deciding the operational details of the agreement, with the joint statement specifying that “the alliance will deliver market-leading, cost-effective services that meet the needs of our customers”.
NHS England is due to announce which CSUs have been accredited as lead providers for their services in spring 2014. Other CSUs, or networks of such, would only be able to survive as subcontractors to the lead providers.
