Integrated Urgent Care Services including the provision of NHS 111 Services

NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group are leading a procurement project across 4 counties in the East Midlands: Derbyshire; Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland; Northamptonshire; and Nottinghamshire previously invited expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced providers capable of delivering a range of aspects of Integrated Urgent Care (IUC).

As a result of the significant pressure on Providers and Commissioners in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic this notice is designed to inform the market of the Commissioners intention to delay this project for a 12 month period, ensuring all existing IUC contracts that are to be procured alongside the NHS111 service are co-terminus with the revised date. The delay will allow both the Commissioner and the market to focus their resource on responding to the pandemic. Moreover, the delay is designed to encourage greater competition ensuring the IUC market can respond to the Invitation to Tender when published.

Additional information: Following the proposed 12-month delay the project will resume and will include three aspects of IUC, however not all aspects will be procured in all counties. The following information shows the IUC areas and the geography they may be procured over;

1. NHS 111 Call Handling with associated clinical support - All four counties
2. Clinical Assessment Services - Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR), Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire
3. GP out of hours services - Derbyshire, LLR and Nottinghamshire.

Services would be expected to commence on the 1st October 2022 and the provider(s) would be given a six month mobilisation period.

The key objectives of this Project are to;

• Commission high quality, safe and effective services that meet the urgent care needs of the specified populations;
• Ensure good value for money across each health system;
• Commission integrated patient pathways and outcomes; and
• Ensure there is continuity of service provision from the 01.10.22 onwards.

Key features will include:

• One entry point via NHS 111 (telephony or online)
• Integrated IT system(s)
• Consult and Complete model
• Direct booking into the wider system
• Digitally enabled technologies that support patients in a more convenient and cost effective manner

In terms of the Clinical Assessment Services these will vary on a per county basis as to what is included. Some of the possible elements are listed as follows;

• Clinical triage of agreed calls originating from NHS 111 (both online and telephony)
• Clinical validation of appropriate calls
• Clinical validation of low acuity ambulance calls (originating via 111 and 999)
• Clinical advice and guidance to clinicians working face to face with patients
• Navigation to appropriate services

The aim of this Prior Information Notice is to;

• Provide the market with visibility of the Commissioner intention to delay for 12 months;
• Refresh the market with visibility of the proposed opportunities;

Additional Information:

This notice is for information only. Please ensure any queries or concerns in relation to this procurement approach are raised prior to the expiry of this notice on 18th May 2020.

Estimated date of publication of contract notice 24/09/2021

Previous Prior Information Notice OJEU Reference: 2020/S 031-074102