Optum and Capita bid for lead provider status

The Health Service Journal has reported that Optum and Capita have placed bids to join NHS England’s lead provider framework for commissioning support services. NHS England is expected to award quality assured status to between 10-15 providers of support services in January 2015. Optum has confirmed its bid while Capita refused to confirm or deny its participation. NHS England has commented that a “wide and diverse range of potential providers should mean commissioners can benefit from the widest pool of skills, expertise and experience”.