Expressions of Interest for the Delivery of Orthotic Services to the Patients Registered within Derbyshire

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (NHS Arden and GEM CSU) on behalf of NHS Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group who are acting as Lead Commissioners across the Derbyshire CCG's (including NHS Erewash, NHS Hardwick and NHS North Derbyshire CCG) are inviting Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified providers capable of delivering Orthotic Services to the patients registered with member GP Practices of NHS Derbyshire CCG's for which they are the responsible commissioner.

The Orthotics Department will provide an outpatient service for the professional assessment, prescription and provision of orthotic devices, including (but not exclusive to) functional foot orthoses, ankle foot orthoses, knee ankle foot orthosis, orthopaedic footwear, spinal and upper limb orthoses. These are intended to assist the functioning of a deformed or weakened part of the body, improve mobility and reduce pain.

Service provision covers a range of different conditions, and users range from those with a slight temporary disability to those with severe chronic problems. Some conditions such as diabetes, cerebral palsy and complex orthopaedic presentations will be treated in multi-disciplinary specialist clinics alongside other professionals.

The aims of the Orthotics Services are to:

• provide a cost effective, accessible specialist orthotics service which includes the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and fitting of Orthoses for children and adults in line with the agreed access criteria, responding to changing medical and social needs of the orthotics user,
• maintain and repair Orthoses supplied by the department when deemed necessary by the clinician,
• provide appropriate orthotics, inclusive of elastic/fabric and custom made splints. To provide advice to maximise motor skills, minimise development of contracture and deformity and prevent injury in a caseload of patients with neurological and physical health needs,
• facilitate the treatment and rehabilitation of the patient during their hospital stay. This is achieved through the assessment of need and the provision of an orthoses that will either remedy or relieve a medical condition or disability, or may prevent the development of more disabling conditions,
• provide access to high quality, safe care that gives timely advice, appropriate support, assessment, diagnosis and treatment for patients according to their individual need,
• ensure the service is delivered in line with current policy, learning and best evidence and provide appropriate governance and management for the service.

Additional information: The expected outcomes of this service will include:

• seamless service through the provision of a "one-stop-shop" approach to orthotics,
• enhanced patient and carer experience, satisfaction and quality of life,
• increased information, knowledge and skills that will allow patients and carers to facilitate self-care, improve wellbeing and promote independence,
• high levels of patient and carer satisfaction,
• improved mobility and independence for patient,
• reduced pain,
• improved management of foot care for diabetic patients, to reduce diabetes-related complications,
• prevention of ulceration.

The aim of this Expression of Interest is to:

1. allow the market visibility of the proposed opportunity;

2. Support the CCGs informed decision making on the future commissioning of this service (as applicable);

3. To help refine the future commissioning and procurement approach; and

4. To gauge the level of interest from the market of capable providers with capacity across Derbyshire to the services illustrated above.

If you wish to express an interest please register on the Bravo Portal https://ardengemcsu.bravosolution.co.uk. The PQQ reference is PQQ_536

Once registered please complete the questions in the qualification envelope which asks providers to give details about your organisation's name and postal address, email address, contact name and number along with your capability and experience of delivering a similar service to the one summarised above.

Bidders who have expressed an interest in this market testing exercise will have the opportunity to submit a separate response to the Contract Notice as applicable.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest responses is by 12pm (noon) 26th November 2018.

Please note this is a market testing exercise and does not commit the CCG to carry out a procurement process. Current services will remain in place during this period in line with existing contracts and service level agreements.