NHS Devon - Audiology Specialist Services - Eastern Locality

Tender description

The aim of the specialised audiology service is to commission a comprehensive specialised service for adults and children experiencing hearing and communication difficulties who would benefit from assessment, treatment and rehabilitation. The service required for the registered Eastern population of the NHS commissioning organisation is for an assessment, diagnosis, rehabilitative support, treatment, appliance provision, follow-up and aftercare services for adults or children who require specialist audiological services. This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner. Lot 1: The aim of the specialised audiology service is to commission a comprehensive specialised service for adults and children experiencing hearing and communication difficulties who would benefit from assessment, treatment and rehabilitation. The ICB commissioned specialist services will accept referrals direct from health professionals in the community via DRSS and hospitals for all aspects of hearing care for the minority of adults for whom the standard community service is not suitable, and children. This will range from babies of a few days old and their families to the elderly. The service includes diagnosis of, quantification of degree, and rehabilitation of hearing loss, tinnitus or balance impairment. It also includes provision of supporting services for patients who may be considering or have bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants in addition to providing audiological support to ENT inpatient and outpatient services, as commissioned by those service providers The service will also be expected to work closely with ENT and other specialist services to establish care pathways that maximize quality while reducing reliance on medically qualified staff, for example in the glue ear pathway for children. Where agreed, such pathways will be included in this specification and a contract variation order completed. It is expected that care pathways will be unified across the ICB regardless of different service providers. The vision for people with hearing problems is for them to receive high quality, efficient services, with short waiting times and high responsiveness to the needs of local communities, free at the point of access. The service required for the registered Eastern population of the NHS commissioning organisation is for an assessment, diagnosis, rehabilitative support, treatment, appliance provision, follow-up and aftercare services for adults or children who require specialist audiological services. The service should include flexibility to provide later evening and/or weekend appointments outside of regular working hours (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm). Providers need to ensure clear and formal accountability processes and structures are in place to ensure a safe, effective and integrated continuity of clinical care for all service users. For each pathway covered under this specification the provider will ensure that service users have access to the following: • Hearing needs assessment • Development of a personalised care plan • Provision and fitting of hearing aids or other intervention where clinically appropriate and agreed with the service user • Appropriate hearing rehabilitation, for example service user information; hearing therapy • Information on and signposting to any relevant communication/social support services • Follow-up appointment (which should only be face to face when clinically necessary) to assess whether needs have been met • Aftercare service for life of the hearing aid, including advice, maintenance and review • Provision for service user complaints and feedback to the Provider. This will be reported by the provider to the commissioner • Exceptionally, domiciliary services may be required. The contract value will be confirmed as part of the formal invitation to tender (ITT). It is likely to be £2,006,166 per annum with a total contract value of £10,030,830 for the 5-year period.