Soon, we can expect a new regime to govern how local authorities and combined authorities award health service contracts, such as sexual health services and substance misuse services.

The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 are expected to come into force on 1 January 2024. The Provider Selection Regime (‘PSR') has some similarities to the existing health care service procurement legislation that NHS England and Integrated Care Boards will be familiar with, but for local authorities, a separate, specific regime, is new.