The BMA has reiterated that Capita should be stripped of its GP contract
The BMA is, once again, calling for Capita to be stripped of its primary care contract following new admissions of errors.
Capita has revealed that an administrative error caused a delay in 16 women being invited to cervical screenings, as well as failing to remove a further 99 women from the programme.
The company has insisted that no harm has occurred and has apologised to the women involved.
Dr Richard Vautrey, BMA GP committee chair, said:
“Less than a year after tens of thousands of women missed vital correspondence about cervical screening2, this is a further example of patient safety being put at risk because of Capita’s incompetence.
“While the numbers here are much smaller, this is testament to the hard work and diligence of GPs and their teams, picking up the pieces where Capita has failed. However, if just one patient comes to harm as a result of this blunder – that is one too many.
“We understand that all women affected have been informed, but to hear that they may be up to two years overdue for an appointment will no doubt cause a great deal of distress and anxiety.
“Four months ago, following repeated pressure by GPC England, NHS England finally stripped Capita of the cervical screening contract, however it is still responsible for a number of backroom GP functions, delivering Primary Care Support England (PCSE) services.
“This most recent revelation provides further evidence that it is unfit to hold this PCSE contract and, as we have stressed consistently, NHS England must take it back in-house immediately.
“Indeed, alongside cervical screening information, we are also aware that there was other correspondence left unprocessed by Capita, including some regarding GP pensions, and we will be demanding more information and urgent action from NHS England on these.”
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