The Cabinet Member Signing of Haringey Council met to discuss the termination of a contract with Nottinghamshire Rehab Ltd (trading as NRS Healthcare) and to approve a new contract for the Integrated Community Equipment Service. Councillor Das Neves, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing, approved the termination of the contract with NRS Healthcare, approved entering into a partnership agreement with other London boroughs, and approved awarding a new contract to a new provider for the Integrated Community Equipment Service. The meeting also excluded the press and public from a portion of the meeting where exempt information was discussed.

Integrated Community Equipment Service Contract

The Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing approved the award of a contract to a new provider for the Integrated Community Equipment Service, with a maximum sum of £4.5 million for the first year. The contract will be for one year, with the option to extend for two additional years (1+1). The new contract arrangement will be managed through a consortium with seven other London boroughs, known as the North London Equipment Partnership (NLEP), and Haringey Council will pay £62,500 in mobilisation costs. The Corporate Director for Adults, Housing and Health was delegated authority to finalise the partnership agreement with the other boroughs.

These decisions were made due to the urgent need to ensure continuity of community equipment services for residents, following the liquidation of NRS Healthcare, the previous provider. Community equipment includes items ranging from basic aids for daily living to complex equipment that supports a variety of health and social care needs.

Several alternative options were considered, including:

• Do nothing: This option was rejected due to the risk of harm to residents and the potential for impeding patient flow out of hospitals.
• Develop an in-house offer: This was deemed unfeasible due to insufficient resources, expertise, and time.
• Competitive procurement: This was ruled out as it would take too long (at least 18 months) to complete.
• Utilising an existing framework agreement: Existing frameworks were explored but found unsuitable.

The report noted the importance of the Community Equipment Service in meeting the council's and the NHS's statutory duties under the Care Act 2014¹ and the NHS Act 2006². It also highlighted the service's role in:

Reducing unscheduled hospital admissions and Accident & Emergency attendance. Reducing the length of hospital stay by facilitating earlier hospital discharges. Reducing the costs of long-term care by avoiding the need for care home admissions, or the need for, or frequency of, paid carers. Promoting independence, safety, social inclusion, quality of life and improved end of life care. Improving Early Year's development. Supporting unpaid carers and parent carers.

The report also stated that the new contract would include a condition for the payment of the London Living Wage.

Termination of NRS Healthcare Contract

The Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing approved the termination of the contract with Nottinghamshire Rehab Ltd (trading as NRS Healthcare), due to the company entering compulsory liquidation on 1 August 2025. The decision also included the approval to withdraw from the London Consortium Community Equipment arrangement, as the purpose for the consortium no longer exists following the collapse of NRS Healthcare.

The council had been working to put in place short and medium-term arrangements to ensure that the most at-risk residents are supported. The report stated that no alternative options were considered, as the provider is no longer able to fulfil the contractual requirements.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The Cabinet Member Signing approved the exclusion of the press and public from the remainder of the meeting, as item 9 contained exempt information as defined under paragraph 3, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972³: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).