AQP Audiology Services for South Warwickshire CCG

Tender description

AQP for Audiology Adult Hearing Service for Age-Related Hearing Loss (non-complex) for NHS South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (SWCCG). NHS Arden & GEM CSU is conducting this procurement exercise on behalf of NHS South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (SWCCG) to seek suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver the Any Qualified Provider (AQP) for Adult Hearing Service for Age-Related Hearing Loss (non-complex). The Adult Hearing AQP Service is aimed at adults aged 55 years old and over experiencing difficulties with their hearing and communication where a GP considers they may benefit from hearing assessment and care, including the option of trying hearing aids to reduce these difficulties. The aim is to provide a comprehensive community-based, patient-centred, adult hearing service for age-related hearing loss in line with national guidance and local requirements. The purpose of the AQP for Adult Hearing Service is to ensure: • Equitable access to high and consistent quality care for all patients using the service • A safe hearing service for patients that conforms to a recognised quality assurance tool e.g. the Improving Quality in Physiological Diagnostic Services Self-Assessment and Improvement Tool (IQIPS-SAIT). The service must also recognise published clinical guidelines/good practice. It is the intention of the Commissioners to enter into a 3 year contract with an option to extend for a further 1 year with qualified providers, commencing on the 1st April 2017. This service will be commissioned via an AQP process, therefore there will be no guaranteed volumes of activity for those providers that qualify to deliver the service. Payment is based on activity only as identified within the schedule of rates (please refer to the ITT documentation for details). Patient choice will apply at point of referral to qualified providers. In securing services from Providers under the AQP process, SWCCG requires assurance of competence, quality and safety standards. Any provider will be eligible to join the qualified provider list subject to demonstrating the required competency against specified criteria. Please note: Providers who are already on the existing AQP list need to be re-accredited through this process (under ITT ITT: itt_628 - AQP Audiology SWWCCG Lot 2 - Existing providers - Please refer to ITT Document 1) if they wish to continue to deliver services beyond 31st March 2017. The proposed tariff for this service is included in the AQP documents as Document 3: Schedule 3 - Payment. Providers must confirm their acceptance of this tariff in their submissions. If qualified, your organisation will be required to accept the terms and conditions and be compliant with the NHS Standard Contract 2017/18 and any subsequent revisions thereof.