Internal Reference Number: FOI_9555
Date Request Received: 15/07/2026 00:00:00
Date Request Replied To: 22/07/2026 00:00:00
This response was sent via: By Email
Request Summary: Third-party healthcare provider assurance arrangements
Request Category: Companies
| Question Number 1: I would like to request the following information in relation to your third-party healthcare provider assurance arrangements: Please confirm whether the Trust undertakes due diligence and/or assesses third-party healthcare providers against any fit and proper person or equivalent standards prior to onboarding and on an ongoing basis. | |
| Answer To Question 1: The Trust undertakes proportionate due diligence on third-party healthcare providers where appropriate as part of its procurement and contract management processes. The extent of any assessment is determined on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the nature of the service, associated risks and the route to market used. | |
| Question Number 2: Please provide details of the checks undertaken on third-party healthcare providers and their personnel. In particular, please indicate whether these checks include: a. Financial viability or financial standing assessments. b. Background checks on directors, shareholders and/or persons with significant control. c. Verification of required insurance cover. d. Assessment of clinical governance, patient safety and quality arrangements. e. Verification that clinicians and other healthcare professionals remain registered with the appropriate regulatory bodies (for example, the General Medical Council, General Optical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, etc.). | |
| Answer To Question 2: "The Trust undertakes proportionate due diligence on third-party healthcare providers where appropriate as part of its procurement and contracting processes. The scope of any assessment is determined on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the nature of the service, associated risks and the route to market used. Depending on the requirements of the procurement, assessments may include consideration of financial standing, organisational and corporate information, insurance arrangements, governance and quality arrangements, and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. Checks relating to individual personnel, including professional registrations, are not undertaken by the Procurement Team and are managed through relevant operational, clinical, workforce, governance or contract management processes where applicable. The Trust does not operate a single standard set of checks that applies to all third-party healthcare providers and the level of due diligence undertaken will vary according to the circumstances of each procurement and contract." | |
| Question Number 3: Please describe the Trust's arrangements for the ongoing monitoring of third-party healthcare providers. Specifically, please indicate: a. Whether monitoring is undertaken manually (for example, through audits or physical inspections). b. Whether any data-driven, automated or software-based monitoring systems are used. | |
| Answer To Question 3: Contract management and monitoring arrangements are determined on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the nature, risk and requirements of the service being provided. Monitoring activities may include manual and/or system-supported processes where appropriate. The specific approach adopted will depend on the relevant contractual and service requirements. | |
| Question Number 4: Please confirm whether the monitoring and assurance of third-party healthcare providers is undertaken: a. Entirely in-house; b. Entirely by an external organisation; or c. Through a combination of internal and external resources. | |
| Answer To Question 4: Monitoring and assurance arrangements are determined on a case-by-case basis. Where monitoring activities are required, they are generally undertaken by the Trust as part of its contract management arrangements. | |
| Question Number 5: If any aspect of the monitoring or assurance process is outsourced, please provide the names of the external organisations or preferred suppliers engaged by the Trust. Please provide information on the costs associated with monitoring and assuring third-party healthcare providers. This may include annual expenditure, typical cost overheads, or any other recorded information held by the Trust relating to such costs. | |
| Answer To Question 5: The Procurement Team does not hold any recorded information identifying external organisations engaged specifically for the monitoring and assurance of third-party healthcare providers, nor any separately recorded costs attributable solely to such activities. | |
| Question Number 6: If the monitoring and assurance activities are undertaken in-house, please state: a. The number of staff employed or assigned to these functions (whole-time equivalent if recorded); and | |
| Answer To Question 6: The Trust does not hold a specific WTE figure for monitoring and assurance activities relating to third-party healthcare providers. Such responsibilities form part of broader operational, clinical, governance and contract management functions and are assigned according to the nature and requirements of individual services and contracts. | |
| Question Number 7: The team, department or function responsible for carrying out these activities. | |
| Answer To Question 7: Responsibility for monitoring and assurance activities sits with the relevant operational, contract management and governance functions responsible for the service concerned. Responsibility will vary depending on the nature of the service and the contractual arrangements in place. | |
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