Health services

Tender description

This notice is placed to facilitate early engagement with potential providers, inviting participation in a pre-procurement market engagement event relating to the future procurement of a Direct Access Non-obstetric Ultrasound Service (Lot 1) and Direct Access Magnetic Resonance Imaging Head and Neck Service (Lot 2) for eligible patients within Greater Manchester. The intended date of service commencement for both services is 1 October 2021, for a period of 3 years, with the option to extend for a further 2 years, at the CCGs’ discretion. The contracts will not offer guarantees of volume or payment (zero value). The Direct Access NOUS service is designed to meet the needs of the following CCG's registered populations: • NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, • NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group, • NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group, • Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, • NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group, • NHS Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, • NHS Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group. The estimated costs associated with provision of this service (based on 5 years) is GBP 30 million. The service will aid early diagnostics and avoid the need for unnecessary referral to secondary care. They will ensure a local service with staff qualified to appropriate levels of skill and experience, using equipment which complies with the most up-to-date guidance set by the Royal College of Radiologists, connection to NHS image transfer solutions, the ability to integrate with the eReferral system, robust performance management systems and stringent levels of clinical governance. Delivery of the direct access NOUS service will: • promote ease of access and ensure patients receive the right test at the right time and in the most clinically appropriate local setting (mobile or static); • ensure diagnostic testing is integrated across pathways of care, that the report and/or images follows the patient and that there is no unnecessary duplication of investigation; • enable patients and referring clinicians to access a choice of provision according to patient choice, clinical need and relevant care pathway; • ensure diagnostic tests are appropriate, necessary, clinically appropriate, of high-quality, with timely access and high-quality reporting; • provide a high-quality and safe service by following the published clinical guidelines and good practice (as set out in applicable service standards — see service specification, section 4); • ensure excellent patient experience; and • develop local service provision as part of a diagnostic commissioning plan which aims to improve access and choice for patients. More detail on the proposed service model can be found in the draft service specification on EU supply. The direct access MRI head and neck service is designed to meet the needs of the following CCG's registered populations: • NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group, • Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, • NHS Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group. The estimated costs associated with provision of this service (based on 5 years) is GBP 4 million. The service will aid early diagnostics and avoid the need for unnecessary referral to secondary care. They will ensure a local service with staff qualified to appropriate levels of skill and experience, using equipment which complies with the most up-to-date guidance set by the Royal College of Radiologists, connection to NHS image transfer solutions, the ability to integrate with the eReferral system, robust performance management systems and stringent levels of clinical governance. Delivery of the direct access magnetic resonance imaging head and neck service will: • promote ease of access and ensure patients receive the right test at the right time and in the most clinically appropriate local setting (mobile or static); • ensure diagnostic testing is integrated across pathways of care, that the report and/or images follows the patient and that there is no unnecessary duplication of investigation; • enable patients and referring clinicians to access a choice of provision according to patient choice, clinical need and relevant care pathway; • ensure diagnostic tests are appropriate, necessary, clinically appropriate, of high-quality, with timely access and high-quality reporting; • provide a high-quality and safe service by following the published clinical guidelines and good practice (as set out in applicable service standards — see service specification, section 4); • ensure excellent patient experience; and • develop local service provision as part of a diagnostic commissioning plan which aims to improve access and choice for patients. More detail on the proposed service model can be found in the draft service specification on EU supply.