Monitor to undertake first investigation under NHS purchasing rules

Health sector regulator Monitor has opened its first investigation to take place under NHS purchasing rules designed to protect patient interests.

Thornbury Radiosurgery Centre has complained about purchasing decisions taken by NHS England and its predecessor body North of England Specialised Commissioning Group in Yorkshire and Humber.

Monitor will consider whether decisions made before 1 April 2013 breach the Principles and Rules for Cooperation and Competition, and whether decisions made after 1 April breach the NHS (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) regulations which replaced them.

Thornbury, which is owned by BMI Healthcare Ltd and Medical Equipment Solutions and based in Sheffield, provides radiosurgery services such as Gamma Knife surgery which treats lesions or tumours inside the brain.

Monitor will now gather information from Thornbury Radiosurgery Centre and other relevant organisations including NHS England and review the evidence before deciding how to proceed.

Catherine Davies, Director of Co-operation and Competition at Monitor said:

"Following a complaint by Thornbury Radiosurgery Centre we are investigating whether rules have been breached in the procurement of radiosurgery services.

The investigation is at an early stage and Monitor has not yet reached a view as to whether there has been any breach of the rules. We are now seeking further information from the organisations involved. If we find that a breach has occurred we will investigate whether patient interests have been negatively affected by these decisions."