News / Serco takes reins at ASP

Serco has taken over the operation of the Anglia Support Partnership (ASP), one of the largest shared services providers in the NHS.

The ASP had been hosted by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT), running it in partnership with five other NHS organisations in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. The four-year deal covers support services to more than 50 public and private sector organisations and includes finance, procurement, primary care support and IT – contracts worth £30m a year.  As part of establishing the partnership, Serco's payment to the partners, which includes acquiring ASP’s assets, is about £9m this year.

ASP staff will see their terms and conditions protected under TUPE regulations, while Serco has secured an agreement with the NHS Pensions Agency to protect their NHS pensions.

This is the company’s first move into the NHS market and the deal allows it to add services, such as commissioning advice.

CPFT chief executive Attila Vegh said Serco would update systems, invest in infrastructure and seize other opportunities to grow the business.

Serco chief executive Christopher Hyman said: ‘Serco will be able to address much of the sizeable NHS “shared services” market, offering member organisations both improvements in service quality and substantial cost savings.’