TREATMENT for people with bone, muscle and joint problems in West Sussex looks set to remain under the NHS.

Health bosses sparked outrage last year when they revealed they wanted to award a £235 million contract for musculoskeletal (MSK) services to Bupa CSH instead of using NHS providers.

However Bupa CSH pulled out of the process when an independent assessment into the contract revealed it could cost Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in Worthing and Chichester, £13.4 million over four years.

It was also suggested there would be problems attracting and retaining staff if the trust lost the service.

Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has announced it has now begun direct, formal contract negotiations with the hospital trust to become the prime provider of MSK services.

In a statement it said: “The CCG will now enter a period of close and intensive working with Western Sussex Hospitals to agree the detailed provisions of the service and a sustainable timetable to introduce improvements for patients.

“This builds on discussions with our providers and the public on the preferred service model.

“As negotiations take place, the CCG will continue to keep the public and local stakeholders informed of progress.”

Campaigners fought against the original plans to use Bupa by holding demonstrations and organising petitions against the change.

They said NHS services should be kept within the NHS and not handed out to private contractors.

Anita Carpenter, from Shoreham, a supporter of Sussex Defend the NHS, said: “This is what should have happened in the first place.

“Nobody had a problem with the services being changed and improved but they should have always been run by the NHS.”

Western Sussex Hospitals chief executive Marianne Griffiths said she was delighted the trust had been chosen.

She said: “Our staff have consistently delivered excellent care to MSK patients over many years and have produced some really innovative and ambitious plans to improve this service for all its users, whether in hospital or in the community.

“We now look forward to working in collaboration with the CCG to build the outstanding, joined-up service we all want to see.”

The contract process has cost the CCG about £350,000 so far.