Provider withdraws services amid contract dispute

• Children with autism in Staffordshire left in limbo after private provider cancels appointments

• Midlands Psychology claimed commissioners had told it the organisation’s contract would not be extended beyond 30 September

• Provider therefore said it cannot offer routine services while also preparing to hand contract over

Children with autism have been left in limbo after a private provider withdrew the majority of its services amid a dispute with commissioners.

Midlands Psychology, a private provider of autism services in South Staffordshire, has cancelled patients’ appointments ahead of its contract finishing on 30 September. Parents were notified in an email from the provider last week, seen by HSJ.

Local commissioners said the provider is contractually responsible to deliver the services until the end of the month, when they plan to have new interim providers in place.

But Angela Southall, chief executive of Midlands Psychology, said the social enterprise was only notified on 30 August that its contract would not be extended.

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