Pathology services

Tender description

This is a voluntary ex-ante transparency notice and is intended to provide notice of the CCGs' intention to award a contract for the provision of Primary Care Pathology Services for NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG, West Suffolk CCG and North East Essex CCG. This is a voluntary ex-ante transparency notice and is intended to provide notice of the intention of NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG, NHS West Suffolk CCG and NHS North East Essex CCG known as the “CCGs” to award a 5 year contract with an option to extend to 2 years for the provision of Primary Care Pathology Services, across the 3 localities. A PIN notice (2018/S 098-223651) was published setting out the CCGs' intention to continue working with the local trusts. The service will deliver 3 key services to support and enable the care provided by GP Practices to their patients: (a) consultant-led Integrated blood sciences service for clinical biochemistry, haematology, immunology; (b) consultant-led microbiology (including virology and mycology) service; (c) community phlebotomy service within Ipswich and East Suffolk. The service will provide the Community Pathology Services that are accessible to GP Practices every weekday, at a minimum, from 08:00 to 20:00 with appropriate on-call access to haematology, clinical biochemistry, immunology and microbiology (including virology and mycology) specialist expertise to: (a) undertake urgent test analysis when clinically indicated by the GP Practice; or (b) provide appropriate clinical advice within 30 minutes of the request being made. The integrated blood science service will include the provision of a comprehensive haematology, clinical biochemistry and immunology service which includes microscopy, blood coagulation, specialist investigations and the review of abnormal test results including blood films and test results. The CCGs' are thus mitigating any risk of destabilising pathology services in the region by awarding to the incumbent provider who will continue to provide a one stop shop for GP Practices, in-patients, hospices and the community alongside their acute services. The contract value for the 5 years is 81 453 645 GBP.