Routine Elective Care Services for NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

Tender description

NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group sought Independent Sector Providers to provide extra capacity for the local recovery of routine elective care services post covid-19. A contract was awarded to Nuffield Health Hereford Hospital by NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group to provide NHS patients in the Clinical Commissioning Group's locality with a clinically safe and effective routine elective outpatient, day case and in-patient service that is responsive to their needs. The contract duration is 18 months (from 1st October 2021 to March 31st 2023) to facilitate stabilisation of the system on a number of levels. This allows Herefordshire & Worcestershire Integrated Care System sufficient time to settle in as from 1st April 2022; sufficient time for resources to optimise post covid-19; and further time to consider potential future procurement options within redesigned care pathways. Lot 1: The Commissioner requires an Independent Sector Provider to deliver the following: To provide NHS patients with a clinically safe and effective routine elective outpatient, day case and in-patient service that is responsive to their needs. • To ensure the availability and range of elective surgical providers to improve choice for patients. • To stimulate improved efficiencies in NHS providers through collaborative working. • To reduce the need to spot purchase from the independent sector. • To offer services in protected elective surgical beds which are not affected by emergency demands. The Commissioner requires the service provider to deliver the following services:- • New Outpatient appointments • Follow-up Outpatient appointments • Outpatient procedures • Day case procedures • Inpatient procedures The provider will perform activity within the following specialties in line with the Exclusion Criteria, as set out in the Service Specification, and in line with the host Commissioner’s Commissioning Policies:- • ENT • General Surgery • Gynaecology • Gastroenterology • Orthopaedics • Ophthalmology • Urology • Physiotherapy Aims: The overall aims of this service are: • To deliver a high-quality routine elective service that meets the needs of NHS patients locally. • To ensure patients receive appropriate assessment, diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner which helps reduce or prevent long term disability from their condition. • To ensure that patients are only treated where clinically appropriate and in accordance with the patient’s host Commissioner’s Commissioning Policies. • To achieve a maximum waiting time of 18 weeks from GP referral to commencement of treatment (noting this requirement has been impacted by the UKs Government's policy response to covid-19). • To provide timely access to any required diagnostic services e.g. X-ray, Pathology, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Ultrasound within four weeks of assessment including reports. To ensure every referral follows a pathway as agreed with the Commissioner that optimises both the patient outcome and use of resources. • To offer choice of appointment with a directly bookable service at the point of referral. • To demonstrate equity of access in the delivery of this service. • To deliver a high-quality safe service compliant with all NHS regulations. • To deliver services within a key performance indicator framework.