Landmark deal for private firm to run social work service approved
From April 2017 Richard Branson’s Virgin Care will run core adult social work services in Bath and North East Somerset after a £700m contract to reshape community health and social care services was approved.The Conservative-controlled council voted 35-22 and the local NHS clinical commissioning group’s board voted unanimously in favour of the deal.
Virgin will run more than 200 services under the deal including three statutory services – adult social care, continuing healthcare and children’s community health. The deal marks the first time a privately-owned profit-making firm will deliver statutory adult social work functions.