Market Engagement For a perinatal pelvic health assessment tool PIN

Tender description

NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) is considering commissioning the development and clinical validation of a perinatal pelvic health assessment tool. This tool will be used to support the successful rollout and evaluation of Perinatal Pelvic Health Services (PPHS), which aim to improve the prevention, identification, and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction around birth. These services will deliver on an NHS Long Term Plan commitment. NHSE/I has developed a draft service model for PPHS, which recommends that all pregnant women undertake a self-assessment of pelvic floor function, to identify those requiring immediate support, but also to raise awareness among all women of key symptoms. While a small number of clinically validated tools exist, there is no publicly available, free-to-use assessment tool that covers all common perinatal issues. NHSE/I would seek to commission: • The development of the tool, including co-production and user acceptance testing. • Its clinical validation and evaluation, in partnership with Early Implementers. • The tool should cover all common perinatal issues, including perineal injuries, perineal wound infection, bladder and bowel dysfunction, prolapse, pelvic girdle pain, rectus abdominis diastasis, and dyspareunia. • To support national rollout of PPHS this work would ideally be completed by March 2023. This Prior Information Notice is to advise prospective providers of the Commissioners intention. It is our intention to hold market engagement meetings during the week commencing 16 August, to discuss our intended brief and consult with parties interested in potentially bidding to deliver a lead provider or consortium offer for the perinatal pelvic health assessment tool. Meetings will outline our current thinking, the anticipated procurement process, general discussion, and requests for information. NHSE/I will use the opportunity to gather intelligence from providers which may influence and inform the development of the final tender. In particular, we would be interested in feedback on: • The key activities and timescales. • Anticipated funding requirements. • The proposed scope of the conditions covered by the tool, balanced with the need for user acceptance and high rates of use. Please RSVP by Thursday 12 August with the name, title and contact details for attendees to Naomi Robertson, Project Manager - Maternity and Women's Health Policy Team, by emailing england.maternitytransformation@nhs.net