In focus: Promises, promises - will Capita get back on track?

It always seems to be the independents that take the hit when it comes to financial worry, and the case of Capita contracts is no exception.

It was back in June 2015 when outsourcing firm Capita agreed a huge £1bn contract with NHS England to deliver administrative support services for optics. The initial seven-to-10-year contract aimed to refresh and modernise services, and hopefully create much-needed savings for the NHS.

The deal was the latest in a run of NHS contract wins for Capita, as the health service increasingly sought to use the private sector in order to keep funds in check. Yet the contract has caused problems for practices up and down the country. Capita has come under fire due to late or incorrect General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) payments to practices, form order problems and customer service delays. Some practices have experienced payments being made to the wrong payees or sent to the wrong practices with patient information on them.