Outlook is a healthy one for law firm
0 Comments | Journal (Newcastle, England), The, Dec 30, 2009
Byline: Peter McCusker
LAW firm Ward Hadaway has scored a double success in the health sector after being chosen to supply legal services to two major NHS buying consortia, one covering the North East and the other covering the North West. The firm, which has offices in Newcastle and Leeds, will supply full legal services to 11 NHS trusts in the North East after winning a place on the legal panel for the NHS Procurement North East (Prone) scheme.
And the firm will provide advice on healthcare law, property, IT, telecommunications, e-commerce and mental health law after winning a place on Prone’s equivalent in the North West, the North West Collaborative Commercial Agency (NWCCA).
The double success – awarded following two hotly contested tender processes – means that Ward Hadaway will now provide expert legal advice to NHS trusts right across the North.
Earlier this year, the firm was appointed to the legal panel for the Yorkshire and the Humber NHS Commercial Procurement Collaborative (YHCPC), which helps more than 30 health organisations across Yorkshire and Humberside to buy goods and services.
Jeffrey Keeble, partner and head of healthcare at Ward Hadaway, said: “These latest appointments demonstrate that Ward Hadaway is a major player in the North of England’s healthcare sector.
“The fact that we have been chosen to supply NHS organisations in both the North East and the North West shows the real strength in depth we possess and demonstrates the high quality of advice we are able to provide to the sector.
“Our team strives to provide the very best services for our clients and we look forward to playing our part in improving healthcare services for people across the North of England.”
The Prone appointment will see Ward Hadaway as one of six firms to supply advice across areas including primary care services, employment, contract and commercial issues, PFI/PPP projects, healthcare and mental health care over the next two years.
Prone works with 11 trusts covered by the North East Strategic Health Authority. By pooling their buying power, the trusts are able to secure improved deals on a range of goods and services.
Stakeholder trusts of Prone include the primary care trusts (PCTs) of Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland Teaching PCT.
Also involved are City Hospital Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust and Northumberland Care Trust.
Stephanie Newburn, project manager for Prone, said: “All appointed suppliers have passed the strict stakeholders selection criteria with high marks and we look forward to working closely with them over the next two years.”
In the North West, the NWCCA covers a total of 58 NHS trusts, primary care trusts and ambulance service trusts across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire.