Health services

Tender description

NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group are commissioning a 24 hours ECG analysis and reporting service across the Ipswich and East Suffolk (minus Waveney) locality. The 24 hours ECG reporting and analysis service will enable the referring clinician to electronically upload a 24 hours ECG recording to the provider and receive a specialist interpretation of the 24 hours ECG recording and a clinical outcome for patients with suspected cardiac arrhythmia. NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group are commissioning a 24 hours ECG analysis and reporting service across the Ipswich and East Suffolk (minus Waveney) locality. The 24 hours ECG reporting and analysis service will enable the referring clinician to electronically upload a 24 hours ECG recording to the provider and receive a specialist interpretation of the 24 hours ECG recording and a clinical outcome for patients with suspected cardiac arrhythmia. The CCG has commissioned an enhanced service with GP practices in Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG to support ambulatory ECG; whereby practices have their own holter equipment and are paid per completed test. Each holter system consists of 2 basic parts: the hardware (monitor or recorder) for recording the signal, and software (card) for review and analysis of the heart rhythm and rate. Whilst wearing the holter the patient is asked to complete a paper diary to provide a narrative of activity which helps to contextualise the data. The card is removed for upload via Sentinel software, using a card reader. Electronic copies of the referral form and the patient diary are provided to support analysis and reporting. Using technology, the service shall provide IESCCG GPs with an accessible and responsive 24 hours ECG analysis and reporting service and where appropriate enable patients to be managed within primary care with a clear management plan. The service will provide clear indications that patients require investigation at secondary care level and provide access to a timely advice and guidance service from a consultant cardiologist regarding the management advice (where the referring clinician considers the management plan to be unclear). The service will be subject to a contract for 5 years and will be an cost and volume contract; more details are available within the procurement documents. Contract review provision: Please note that the services and associated specification and prices commissioned within this contract may be subject to review and change, any changes will be through a variation to the contract in accordance with Regulation 72 (1) (a) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Additionally, the contract may also be amended in terms of the original services supplied, where, following assessment it is identified that it is logical for additional services to be delivered in conjunction with this contract and by the provider, both in terms of actual service delivery and to avoid duplication of costs. These services may include but are not limited to other services and specialties formally delivered in the community and secondary care settings where it is foreseen that these services can be delivered more effectively as part of this contract.