Wragge & Co LLP has advised the Department of Health on a three-year contract to implement a market-leading nationwide patient outcomes data collection programme.

Under the contract, Northgate Information Solutions UK Limited will work in partnership with Quality Health and Caspe Healthcare Knowledge Systems Ltd to collect and administer data obtained from Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) questionnaires. PROMs underpin the Government's strategy to improve patient experience, choice, service quality and outcomes following the "High-Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report".

Partner Bleddyn Rees led the team, with assistance from Simone Tudor and Sarah Friedrich. Catherine Stromdale, Matthew Johnston, Luke Kempton, Michael Luckman, Lisa Page, Simon Taylor and Cate McGhee advised on information governance and IT, intellectual property and public procurement issues. The team worked closely with officials from NHS Contracting and Systems Management and New Enterprise.

Robert Moorhead, NHS systems manager, NHS Contracting, said: "Simone Tudor and the team at Wragge & Co have been exemplary in their professionalism and in supporting us to complete the PROMs procurement and contract closure to a demanding schedule."

Bleddyn Rees said: "This contract will play a pivotal role in helping the Department of Health drive through improvements in the quality of patient care and build a world-class NHS. Our close working relationship with the client makes advising on this latest evolution in the UK's health services particularly rewarding."

Northgate is a provider of services to the public sector and utilities markets. Vivian Crook, head of legal and commercial, and John Braddock, legal counsel, advised Northgate. Quality Health is a provider of patient and staff surveys in the UK. CHKS provides healthcare intelligence to the NHS and independent healthcare sector.

Wragge & Co's full-service 70-strong healthcare practice is at the forefront of developments in this dynamic sector. Sector 'firsts' including playing a leading role in the Government's Independent Sector Treatment Centre programme and advising Central Surrey Health; a not-for-profit organisation owned and managed by the nurses and therapists who work for it.

From joint ventures and social enterprises to employment-related advice, the team is helping the Government to offer greater choice and flexibility in the provision of healthcare. On an international scale, the team provides commercial and outsourcing advice to the departments of health of two Middle Eastern countries. Experience includes advising the Abu Dhabi Government on the outsourcing of two major hospitals.

---

For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 685 2785, Amie Ryalls on +44 (0)121 685 2708 or Rebecca Davies on +44 (0)121 685 3819

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.