Councillor Paul Osborn, Leader of the Council, convened an urgent Portfolio Holder Decision Meeting to address the continuity of community equipment services in Harrow. The Leader delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Adults and Public Health to enter into contract arrangements with Provide Care Solutions Ltd, and other providers if necessary, to ensure the ongoing provision of essential equipment to residents. This decision was made in response to the liquidation of NRS Healthcare, the previous service provider, and the inability of Essex Cares Ltd to proceed with a previously negotiated contract.

Provision of Community Equipment Services

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Adults and Public Health to enter into contract arrangements with Provide Care Solutions Ltd for the provision of community equipment services, and with other providers if necessary. This decision was made to ensure the continuity of services after the previous provider, NRS Healthcare, entered compulsory liquidation and negotiations with Essex Cares Ltd fell through.

The council and the NHS in Harrow order around 1,500 pieces of equipment per month, including hospital beds, pressure relieving mattresses, and hoists, to support the delivery of health and social care services. The report noted that without a community equipment service provider, officers were seeking urgent approval from the Leader of the Council to enter into contract arrangements to provide a community equipment service to the borough.

The report considered the option of doing nothing, but this was rejected as unrealistic given the need to provide the service. Negotiations with alternative providers, including Essex Cares Ltd, had been unsuccessful. Provide Care Solutions Ltd, a subsidiary of Provide CIC¹, was identified as a viable alternative that could scale up an equipment service in the coming weeks.

The decision was made with reference to the council's statutory duty under the Care Act 2014² and the Children & Families Act 2014³ to provide disability aids and community equipment to meet the assessed eligible needs of individuals resident in the area. The combined spend on equipment services in Harrow is around £2.9m per year, which the council commissions on behalf of the NHS locally.

The report outlined several risks associated with the transition to a new provider, including the possibility of the council being left without a community equipment provider and a gap in provision during the transition. Mitigations included negotiations with Provide Care Solutions, the identification of alternative providers to deliver a contingency service, and engagement with prescribers and NHS trusts to prepare for potential disruptions.

The report also addressed procurement, legal, and financial implications. Procurement confirmed that they fully supported the recommendations outlined in the report and would ensure full compliance with the Council's Contract Procedure Rules, the Public Contract Regulations 2015, and the Procurement Act 2023⁴. The report noted that consideration could be given to the use of Schedule 5 (13) of the Procurement Act 2023 to justify a Direct Award under the Urgency provision prior to entering into any contractual agreements.

The report stated that the decision aligns with the council's priority of being a place where those in need are supported by securing continuity and putting in place contingencies for Harrow's community equipment service.

Other Matters

The meeting also addressed the following procedural items:

• Declarations of Interest: It was noted that there were no declarations of interest from any members present.
• Petitions: It was noted that no petitions were received.
• Public Questions: It was noted that no public questions had been received.

Councillor Paul Osborn and the Managing Director thanked the Strategic Director of Adults and Public Health and his team for their hard work.