Having major troubles getting paid by the NHS!! HELP please?

Having major troubles getting paid by the NHS!! HELP please?

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Danattheopticians

Original Poster:

375 posts

103 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Well this is a difficult one. I own an opticians practice in Southampton and have had an NHS contract to provide NHS funded services since April this year. We have followed everything they have told us to do to the letter, have a long paper and email trail but still not set up to receive payment and are now desperately in need of their payment which is now a 5 figure sum and growing. It's literally at the stage that we will not be able to pay staff and suppliers if this doesn't get rectified soon. Have tried multiple times to get help and now need to resort to legal action. We believe they are in breech of contract which states, "you will be paid promptly" and have not been paid a penny from them as of yet. Do we have a legal case, avenue we can take. I do not want to sue the NHS just make them pay us what we are desperately owed. Thanks.

Danattheopticians

Original Poster:

375 posts

103 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Thanks,
No, we have tried, PCSE, GOC, Hampshire LOC, AOP etc, all to no avail.

Danattheopticians

Original Poster:

375 posts

103 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
It's been down to a very prolonged (Unacceptable) process. In short sentences:

We set up new contract, wait payment code.
Had trouble getting code, then was advised to send in claims on current forms we had, previous practice owners, with our new bank details. We have had confirmation we were to do this.
Then on payment due date, we called to see why it hadn't entered our account? Told it had been paid, so waited couple more days to see if it cleared, nothing.
Called again, told that we had not been set up on there system, although, we previously had confirmation we could submit for payment.
We have since supplied them all the previous confirmation emails, someone senior said they'd deal with it, when we now try to contact, she is never available.

This whole process has been a lot more involved that described above, and had been since April. We are due to submit another claim now for another months work, and can't as they have now told us to wait for our new claims forms to be set up and set for our use.

Danattheopticians

Original Poster:

375 posts

103 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Rangeroverover said:
Can you factor the payments
Sorry how do you mean? They are a major part of our cash flow each month etc. We are almost cashed out now do to length of time this has been going on for.

Danattheopticians

Original Poster:

375 posts

103 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
nikaiyo2 said:
Danattheopticians said:
It's been down to a very prolonged (Unacceptable) process. In short sentences:

We set up new contract, wait payment code.
Had trouble getting code, then was advised to send in claims on current forms we had, previous practice owners, with our new bank details. We have had confirmation we were to do this.
Then on payment due date, we called to see why it hadn't entered our account? Told it had been paid, so waited couple more days to see if it cleared, nothing.
Called again, told that we had not been set up on there system, although, we previously had confirmation we could submit for payment.
We have since supplied them all the previous confirmation emails, someone senior said they'd deal with it, when we now try to contact, she is never available.

This whole process has been a lot more involved that described above, and had been since April. We are due to submit another claim now for another months work, and can't as they have now told us to wait for our new claims forms to be set up and set for our use.
We used to do LOADS of work for the NHS doing multi million £ contracts.


We wont ever do it direct anymore. Its like dealing with idiots, oh the purchaser for that job is off sick then oh they are on development leave then oh they are on yogurt knitting leave. Then after 6 months they are back at work and are not authorized to make a payment, that six months ago had been made so no one else could pay it... They do not have the ability to make decisions and you the supplier foot the bill for their retarded staff and ridiculous organizations.

Seriously does your business NEED NHS work?
We do work we claim through the NHS because that is how health care works. To do private only work would be far too difficult. We are an opticians so loads of people are eligible for NHS funded eye exams.

Danattheopticians

Original Poster:

375 posts

103 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
mph1977 said:
nikaiyo2 said:
Seriously does your business NEED NHS work?
for a 'high street' optician not to do NHS work would be suicide as you'd exclude all the pensioners, school age kids , some college / uni students , people in low paid work etc etc ...
yes

Danattheopticians

Original Poster:

375 posts

103 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Thanks everyone. We have some movement. Looks like we will be paid, told it'll be in our account by 3pm Friday?? Hope this turns out to be true. Look out for part 2 if not.

Danattheopticians

Original Poster:

375 posts

103 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
nikaiyo2 said:
Danattheopticians said:
Thanks everyone. We have some movement. Looks like we will be paid, told it'll be in our account by 3pm Friday?? Hope this turns out to be true. Look out for part 2 if not.
Did they pay you in the end?
Yes got paid. Now just hoping we have been correctly set up for all future claims. Thanks.