Three clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have been fined £22,000 for failing to properly manage conflicts of interests.
The three CCGs* were described by a judge as being guilty of “defending the indefensible” after being taken to court. The action was brought by a supplier excluded from the award of a technology contract.
Issues that the Court found included:
- leaking information about competitors to the CCGs’ preferred supplier
- staff at the CCGs openly campaigning for the preferred supplier
- coaching the preferred supplier on how to win the bid
- failing to manage the close relationship between the preferred supplier and senior CCG managers
The CCGs took no “appropriate measures… to prevent, identify and remedy these conflicts of interest,” the Court concluded.
Sign Up Here: Core to the finding against the CCGS was not inherent corruption. Instead there was a failure to see an open and properly managed procurement exercise as more than a bureaucratic exercise. In addition the Court considered that processes were inappropriately manipulated including relying on the wrong procurement framework and continued lobbying by CCG staff even though costs were rising. You can read the full judgement here. Gain the practical skills you need to identify and manage conflicts of interests with this five-star rated training course. Available in person, online or in-house the focus on practical skills and unique post-course support you get by learning with us will ensure you and your organisation can tackle this key governance activity with confidence. *Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire