Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2022 to Question 26838 on NHS: Sciensus, when the Care Quality Commission required Sciensus to enter special measures; when Sciensus left special measures; and what meetings were held between Sciensus and (a) the National Homecare Medicines Committee and (b) NHS England during this period.

From 26 November 2020 to 14 December 2020, Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out an unannounced inspection at Sciensus Pharma Services Limited. Following the publication of the inspection report in May 2021, CQC rated the provider inadequate and placed it in special measures. CQC carried out another unannounced inspection of the provider between 27 July 2021 and 11 August 2021. Following the publication of the inspection report in October 2021, CQC noted improvement from the provider and removed it from special measures. The provider currently has an overall ‘good’ rating.

NHS England are members of National Homecare Medicines Committee (NHMC). Following the publication report in May 2021, NHMC monitored Sciensus via the NHMC Supplier Engagement Supplier Performance Escalation Process. NHMC communicated regularly with various stakeholders throughout this period, including Chief Pharmacists Networks, NHS Pharmacy Homecare Teams, Commercial Medicines Unit and NHS England Specialised Commissioning. The NHMC chair was also invited to periodic discussions with the General Pharmaceutical Council and CQC inspectors. Following a final meeting on 4 April 2023, NHMC stepped down service performance monitoring to normal levels of quarterly reviews with the Sciensus senior management team. Sciensus worked closely with NHMC during the initial difficulties, through the recovery phase and later.

NHS England do not hold information centrally relating to risk registers. Decisions about risk registers at National Health Service trusts is the responsibility of the individual trusts themselves.