Provision of Diabetic Eye Screen Services for Berkshire

NHS England South (South Central) (the Commissioner) sought to commission a Diabetic Eye Screening Programme service for patients in the Berkshire area. The procurement was carried out by NHS South, Central & West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners'.

The Commissioner was looking for a single provider to deliver a high quality service across the Berkshire area. The aim of the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (NDESP) is to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst people with diabetes by the prompt identification and effective treatment if necessary of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy, at the appropriate stage during the disease process. The screening programme will operate a 12 month screening interval for all people with diabetes invited for routine digital screening according to NDESP Guidance, unless advised to alter by the NHS Screening programmes. Programmes should not operate recall intervals of less than 12 months as part of the routine screening programme.

The Commissioners sought suitably qualified and experienced providers from third sector and social enterprise organisations, private or NHS to provide the NDESP to patients living and registered in the Berkshire area.

The services aim will be achieved by delivering evidence-based, population-based screening programmes that:

• Identifies the eligible population and ensures effective delivery with maximum coverage.
• Are safe, effective, of a high quality, externally and independently monitored, and quality assured.
• Lead to earlier detection, appropriate referral, effective treatment and improved outcomes.
• Are delivered and supported by suitably trained, competent, and qualified, clinical and non-clinical staffs who, where relevant, participate in recognised ongoing CME, Continuous Professional Development (CPD), and Quality Assurance (QA) schemes.
• Have audit embedded in the service

The contract duration will be 4 years - the Berkshire contract will commence on 1st April 2018. The contract will expire on 31st March 2022 subject to the option to extend for a further 12 months.

Additional information: The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).