New safeguards to protect patients

The government wants your views on how safeguards to protect the services that patients need will be extended to NHS services provided by social enterprises and other companies.

For the first time, the services provided by these organisations will be secured if they go out of business. This will ensure that, regardless of the type of provider, patients will receive an uninterrupted service.

Health special administration is intended as a last resort where earlier action, operating through Monitor’s licensing regime, has either not worked or is not considered appropriate to protect the interests of patients.

Monitor will be able to seek the appointment of a health special administrator, who will take control of the company, working with local health professionals so that services can continue.

Currently, if a company that provides NHS healthcare goes out of business and can no longer provide services, there are few safeguards in place to ensure that patients can still access those services.