Memory Assessment Service (MAS) NHS/SOEPS/19.487 RFI

Tender description

Commissioners within NHS Hastings and Rother and Eastbourne Hailsham and Seaford CCG are looking to re-commissioning its Memory Assessment Service. This would be under a single provider contract. The current service currently provides for 1,204 completed diagnostic episodes per annum. The proposed service to be commissioned will provide a Memory Assessment service across the NHS Hastings and Rother and Eastbourne Hailsham and Seaford CCG areas. Improvements in diagnostic provision have been evident within the CCG's over the past 5 years and current rates of diagnosis continue to meet and exceed the NHSE 67% expectation. The result being that early access to diagnostic provision and in turn flexible, practical community support services, to enable people to live well with the disease throughout the journey assumes a high priority. Our experience of the benefits to be accrued to the whole system has intensified our focus on the improvement of services for older people with dementia. The evolving evidence-base and emerging models of best practice such as Primary Care aligned Dementia Community Support Workers provide opportunities to reflect on how well local diagnostic provision is meeting the needs and aspirations of people living with dementia and their carers. The MAS is a key element of the overall dementia model of care in the CCG areas and its effective, efficient and person centred delivery is of vital importance. Current provision has seen high levels of satisfaction expressed by both patients and referring clinicians and significant progress around integrating IT systems and Data Sharing have been achieved. Learning from a recent independent academic evaluation of the current MAS service model highlighted the importance of excellent informal as well as formal communications with the referring GP community. In addition diffusion of learning and education across the primary care sector was demonstrated to add significant value to the local primary care economy. Potential providers will be expected to demonstrate how they would ensure the continuing implementation of this learning over the duration of the contract period. The MAS will be required to provide a Care Home In-reach diagnostic and Primary Care Practitioner Dementia Advice Clinic function as part of the service. It is anticipated that the service would be offered for tender under a standard NHS contract for a period of 3 years commencing on the 1st April 2020 with option to extend for a maximum of a further two years. The purpose of this RFI is to gauge market interest and feedback via the RFI response form for the provision of a Memory Assessment Services and provide the CCG with valuable information to help update and improve the current service specification. Please access the documents and return the questionnaire via the e-procurement portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/soepscommissioning/aspx/Home Please return the form by Midday Friday 31st May 2019. Additional information: Key Aims and Objectives: Diagnosing an illness accurately helps to ensure that people can access the care, support and treatment they need to stay as well and live as independently as possible for as long as possible. The aim of the MAS is therefore to ensure early diagnosis and access to treatment for adults with dementia of any age including those with other illnesses or a learning disability. The specific aim of the memory assessment and diagnostic service is to ensure: i) Accessibility of dementia assessment and diagnosis services for all groups of our population. ii) Dementia is diagnosed early. iii) People with dementia and their carers receive appropriate treatment early in the illness. iv) Effective referral is made to secondary & social care for those who require it v) Effective referral is made to local post diagnostic support provision Other information: This is a process designed to help the Commissioners form a view of the best way to commission the service and is not the beginning of a tender exercise. A further tender advertisement will be issued at the appropriate time as/if required. You will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent tender process if you choose not to respond to this RFI but the Commissioners will use the level of response received as part of the supporting evidence for any next steps taken. The Commissioners wish to understand your views at this early stage, so you are encouraged to respond and complete the RFI form as fully as you can.