NHSWYICB - Childrens Complex Panel (Wakefield)

The NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (WYICB) has awarded a contract for children's complex therapy services in Wakefield. This procurement falls under the health services category, with the contract set to run from 1st January 2025 to 31st March 2027. The procurement process utilised the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, specifically the Direct Award C method, meaning the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply.

The service is designed to provide individual therapy for children placed out of the Wakefield area, with no financial value attached, being activity-based instead. The contract was awarded on 1st May 2025, and decisions were approved by the Assistant Director of Contracting, ensuring no conflicts of interest were declared. This contract presents significant growth opportunities for businesses involved in healthcare services, particularly those specialising in therapy for children.

Given the specific requirements of this work, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in delivering healthcare services to children are well-positioned to tender. The absence of a prior competition call highlights the emphasis on experienced providers with proven capability, suggesting that businesses with existing frameworks for these services can thrive within such limited procurement methods. Organisations similar to Lisa Fletcher – Therapy, Consultation and Clinical Services, and Spectrum Community Health CIC, who were awarded the contracts, are examples of companies well-suited for such opportunities.