Firm loses NHS contract

Jul 27 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A MERSEYSIDE-based private healthcare company has had its contract to do NHS work terminated, Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced yesterday.

Atos Origin was brought in to help cut waiting lists at eight Primary Care Trusts across the North West, including Liverpool and Knowsley.

However, it was revealed earlier this year that more than 250 Merseyside patients would have to be re-tested after ultrasound scans carried out by the company were not done to a sufficiently high standard.

Mr Johnson said: “Where independent sector providers are not offering good value for money or high-quality patient care, we won’t shoehorn them into the NHS.

“I can today confirm the termination of the contracts with Atos Origin for diagnostic tests in the North West and South West.

“Atos have failed to meet certain conditions within the contracts.”