Health services

Tender description

Wiltshire Council is publishing this prior information notice (PIN) in relation to a planned procurement of the provision of an integrated sexual health and contraceptive service and wishes to alert interested organisations of this potential opportunity. Wiltshire Council would like to hear from prospective providers who can demonstrate in principle that they have the appropriate expertise and capacity to provide an integrated model of sexual health provision in Wiltshire. Prospective providers should also demonstrate that they would be able to secure local facilities (premises) and equipment to deliver this service. This will assist the council in the planning and conduct of any future procurement. The existing service has been the subject of a review and Wiltshire Council now intends to commission a comprehensive integrated sexual health and contraceptive service including contraceptive services and sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing and treatment. Sexual and reproductive health care services are highly specialised clinical services requiring specific standards of professional eligibility and competence. Services must be compliant with the standards of clinical practice as set out in the guidance published by Department of Health: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), Medical Foundation for HIV and Sexual Health (MEDFASH), Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), British HIV Association (BHIVA) and the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP). Services must be delivered from facilities (premises) that are compliant with strict Care quality commission (CQC) guidelines (Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Regulation 15). It is essential that they also have access to ancillary allied healthcare professional services such as pathology and radiography services. The potential service will provide open access clinics in a range of settings across Wiltshire with evening and weekend provision to ensure reach to the whole community including those at most risk of poorer sexual health. The council is looking to commission a single provider to deliver an integrated sexual health and contraception service.