Health services

Tender description

The University of Birmingham has decided to review its present arrangements for the provision of Health Clearance (LOT 1) and Occupational Health Services (LOT 2) for clinical programme students. Providers are invited to tender for both LOTS or for either LOT 1 or LOT 2. The University reserves the right not to award both LOTS to a single provider. The Colleges of Medical and Dental Sciences and Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham incorporate the subject areas of medicine, biomedical sciences, dentistry, nursing and physiotherapy. The Colleges provide 9 undergraduate programmes and numerous postgraduate programmes. Each year almost 1000 students joining programmes run by the Colleges require health clearance. They are mostly undergraduate students for whom health clearance is a condition of acceptance to their programme of study. The occupational health service provider for this LOT of work must be able to offer it locally to the University of Birmingham so that students are able to access it without difficulty. All students entering clinical programmes are required to have received two doses of MMR vaccine or a blood test result for rubella and measles screen. It is expected that the majority of prospective students will make their own arrangements, usually via their GP or a Travel Clinic, for MMR screening and vaccinations. For those students unable to make their own arrangements the service provider will administer the screening and where necessary the vaccinations. All students entering clinical programmes are also required to provide a blood test result for varicella screen if they are non-UK students or do not have a history of chicken pox infection and are UK born or raised. Screen for hepatitis B infection (hepatitis B surface antigen). Currently, most prospective healthcare students will begin blood borne virus screening and hepatitis B vaccinations in the March or April before commencing their course. Dental, Physician Associates, Nursing and Medical students are requested to complete all components of this LOT of work before they are admitted, however, many students will not have achieved this. This screening should take place prior to immunisation against hepatitis B and is required for Students on healthcare programmes Screen for hepatitis C antibody. This is required for dental students only. It is highly likely to be required for medical students from the 2020 intake. Screen for HIV antigen and antibody. This is required for dental students only. It is highly likely to be required for medical students from the 2020 intake. Screening for hepatitis B, C and HIV must be carried out on an identified validated sample. The identities of prospective students must be confirmed by means of a photograph. Administer a course of hepatitis B vaccinations and confirm immunity to infection. Test for immunity to hepatitis B after a course of vaccinations has been completed. Screen for TB immunity by proof of BCG vaccination or evidence of positive tuberculin skin test within the last five years. This is required for all categories of healthcare student Administer BCG vaccinations. Inform the College should any student fail to attend a vaccination or screening appointment without reasonable prior notice. The results of screening and confirmation that vaccinations have been administered must be conveyed to the Colleges of Medical and Dental Sciences and Life and Environmental Sciences within five working days of completing the work for each student. On completion of all vaccinations and screening, students will receive a Personal Vaccination Record detailing their immune status (which they can use to provide to any placement provider). Provide counselling, support, advice and treatment for those students who test positive to Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs), and to non-responders, and provide risk assessments for students on EPP courses The occupational health service provider for this LOT of work must be able to offer it locally to the University of Birmingham so that students are able to access it without difficulty. Review Applicant Health Declaration Forms for about 1200 - 1400 students in relation to their suitability to engage with their chosen course. Carry out occupational health assessments for applicants with disabilities onto clinical programmes, to advise the College on their suitability to pursue their chosen programme and/or propose any reasonable adjustments which should be considered by the programme to enable the applicant to successfully pursue their course of study. The decisions must be conveyed to the College within five working days of receiving the form for each student. Provide an occupational health service to clinical students throughout the duration of their studies at the University of Birmingham. Undertake health clearance work associated with student electives. A number of healthcare students will take an elective during the course of their study. The majority of electives take place overseas in non EU countries. In some of these countries the requirements for blood borne virus screening and vaccinations are more onerous than those of the UK, and additional screening and/or vaccinations would be required for students going to these countries. Some students will request a course of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to take with them to countries where HIV is prevalent. To provide complete occupational health clearance certificates for dentists applying to join the Performers List in England. The provider of this LOT of work will act as the primary contractor, and will maintain the occupational health record for each student under agreed data protection regulations. The occupational health service provider for this LOT of work must be able to supply it at a location close to the University so that students have ready access to it. Students may also refer themselves to the Occupational Health provider: in circumstances where their health may have an impact on their course of study or placement, the provider must inform the relevant college.