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The Principles and Rules for Cooperation and Competition (PRCC) set out the rules that commissioners and providers of NHS services are expected to follow to ensure cooperation and competition.

NHS foundation trusts are required by Monitor to follow the PRCC, and to take such action as may be required by Monitor, advised by the Cooperation and Competition Panel (CCP), to address a breach of the PRCC .

The Department of Health undertook a review of the PRCC in late 2009 and issued a revised version in March 2010.  The Department of Health conducted a further review of the PRCC in July 2010 to ensure consistency with the White Paper Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS. This includes a new commitment that patients should have a choice of any willing provider wherever relevant and this is now reflected in Principle 5. Monitor’s consultation on the Compliance Framework 2010/11 stated that we would consult separately on adopting the new version of the PRCC for NHS foundation trusts.

We welcome views from NHS foundation trusts and others on the changes to the PRCC - our consultation document is available here.

Responding to the consultation

Monitor will consider responses before making its decision on whether to adopt the revised PRCC as part of foundation trusts' terms of authorisation and the Compliance Framework 2010/11, from October 2010.

Responses should be sent to consultation@monitor-nhsft.gov.uk. Questions regarding this consultation may be directed to Pam Kitsawat on 020 7340 2496 or pam.kitsawat@monitor-nhsft.gov.uk

This consultation closes at 5pm on 27 August 2010