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The standard NHS contracts for acute hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services and supporting guidance

These documents represent Annex D to the NHS Operating Framework for 2009-10 and should be read in conjunction with The NHS in England: The operating framework for 2008/09 Annex D - Principles and rules for co-operation and competition December 2007.

The NHS standard contracts will cover agreements between PCTs and providers for the delivery of NHS funded services.  The contract will apply to agreements from 2009-10 for:

• NHS trusts
• New foundation trusts and FTs whose existing contracts have expired
• New agreements between PCTs and independent sector providers
• New agreements between PCTs and third sector providers

The mental health and learning disability services contract is published initially on a one year interim basis and with a degree of flexibility. The details of this will be set out in the mental health and learning disability services contract guidance.

Guidance on the contracts was published on 16 December, together with a model consortium agreement and associated guidance.