Circle preferred bidder for landmark MSK contract

 12 August 2013

Circle named preferred bidder for landmark MSK contract

Circle Holdings Limited ("Circle")(LSE: CIRC), the employee co-owned hospital group, has won preferred bidder status for the landmark Prime Contractor musculoskeletal integrated service in Bedfordshire.

The innovative 5 year contract - which includes a partnership of Pennine MSK, the developer of the original integrated model of musculoskeletal services in Oldham, local clinicians and leading charities - is the first of its kind in the country and is focussed on improving quality and integrating care for Bedfordshire's 440,000 patients through clinical leadership.

The bid means that MSK services within Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which were previously handled by more than 20 separate contracts, will now be organised by one Prime Contractor, Circle.

Negotiation between both parties over the detailed terms of the proposal will now commence.

Circle will be leading the partnership including:

·; Pennine MSK Partnership, the developers of the only previous Prime Contractor MSK model in Oldham.

·; Horizon Health Choices, a local healthcare provider of a range of NHS services, including MSK, in a variety of community settings across Bedfordshire.

·; Arthritis Care and the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, the leading local and national patient charities.

·; Luton and Dunstable NHS Foundation Trust, a local NHS Foundation Trust and provider of secondary care and community services who will be working with Circle to develop the model of care in Bedfordshire.

Steve Melton, Chief Executive Officer of Circle, said: "We have a proven track-record of partnering with the NHS to deliver outstanding patient care.

"This new integrated approach is essential for the NHS to meet the growing challenge of delivering high quality care at an affordable cost. Bedfordshire CCG should be congratulated on their leadership in this area.

"We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with local doctors and other healthcare professionals to join-up musculoskeletal service in Bedfordshire and help improve care for patients."

Dr Andy Edwards, a Biggleswade GP, who has led the development of the plans for Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group said: "I look forward to working with Circle and their partners in this exciting and innovative new venture and to seeing the benefits this new model will deliver in improved care for local patients and their families.

"As a local GP, I want my patients to have access to high quality, modern, integrated services as close to home as possible. This plan offers our population now and in the future this opportunity and by working together with patients, national and local experts we can see real improvements very quickly. It's an exciting time for everyone working to provide better musculoskeletal services in Bedfordshire."

Notes to editors:

For further information, please contact:

Circle Holdings plc

Michael Kirkwood, Chairman +44(0) 20 7034 5258

Steve Melton, Chief Executive Officer

Tom Muir, Head of Communications