NHS England & NHS Improvement South West - Market Engagement - Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes for Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire and Dorset

Tender description

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) and relates to a pre-procurement market engagement questionnaire and event/s. Due to the current contracts expiring, NHS England and NHS Improvement South West (The Commissioner) seeks to re-commission two Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) to deliver screening to the eligible populations of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (Lot 1) and the eligible population of Dorset (Lot 2) and invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide the services in line with strict national standards and guidelines to eligible patients living and registered in the identified geographies. The eligible population of both Lots includes patients over the age of 12 diagnosed with diabetes and registered with, or eligible to be registered with a GP, as well as individuals within prisons, secure units and the armed forces. The aim of the DESP is to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst people with diabetes by the prompt identification and effective treatment if necessary of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy. This will be achieved by delivering an evidence-based service that: •Identifies the eligible population and ensures effective delivery with maximum coverage •Is safe, effective, high quality, externally and independently monitored, and quality assured •Leads to earlier detection, appropriate referral, effective treatment and improved outcomes •Is delivered and supported by suitably trained, competent and qualified clinical and non-clinical staff who, where relevant, participate in recognised ongoing continuing medical education (CME), continuous professional development (CPD) and quality assurance (QA) schemes •Has audit embedded in the service •Works effectively with other stakeholders to ensure the care pathway is smooth and efficient. There are three key elements of service delivery, namely: •Call/recall for all people with diabetes invited for routine digital screening - this is currently undertaken on an annual basis but screening intervals are likely to extend to two years for people at low risk during the contract term in line with national guidance •Digital surveillance where individuals need more frequent screening •Slit lamp bio-microscopy (SLB) for those individuals where normal photography is inappropriate (e.g. those having cataracts). Further information on the DESP is available at; https://www.gov.uk/topic/population-screening-programmes/diabetic-eye The contracts are due to commence on 1st April 2022.The contract term is yet to be confirmed. The Services will be commissioned using the national service specification for DESP Services. The 20/21 national service specification, including Schedule 4 - Quality Requirements is available within the e-procurement system In-Tend. Some local tailoring is likely to be made to these documents for this contract, and published as part of the final procurement documentation.