Service for Open Pre-natal Surgery to treat Fetuses with Open Spina Bifida

NHS England would like to identify providers who are interested in the provision of a national service for open pre-natal surgery to treat fetuses with open spina bifida service In line with the service specification Open-fetal-surgery-to-treat-fetuses-with-open-spina-bifida.pdf (england.nhs.uk)

The commissioned Provider(s) must have:

• Undertaken, as an organisation, a minimum of ten 'open' fetal surgery repairs in fetuses with open spina bifida in the period December 2019 to December 2022, and
• In place the key fetal medicine, neurosurgery and other multidisciplinary team members to deliver the service who can evidence their experience and expertise in open surgery for fetuses with open spina bifida.

These criteria are essential for service continuity and patient safety. Only providers which meet these criteria will be considered to be potentially capable.

In addition, each provider is required to confirm, as evidence of its experience, that:

• It currently acts as a regional unit for fetal medicine and paediatric neurosurgery for the wider geographic area that it sits within, and receives referrals from other units for an expert opinion in the diagnosis and open surgery management of women carrying a fetus which is suspected of having open spina bifida;
• It currently undertakes open fetal (pre-natal) surgery to close open spina bifida in fetuses;
• It has in place the required multi-disciplinary team with the expertise and experience to carry out the above activities and can demonstrate this, including fetal surgery counselling, expert and timely fetal MRI scanning and reporting;
• It has the flexibility in its operational capacity to absorb the urgent activity demands for this service.

The contract duration for this service is expected to be 3 years, including an option to extend for an additional 2 years.

This notice is to advise prospective and incumbent providers in the market of the commissioner's intention to commission this service and to provide an opportunity to engage with and participate in a market engagement questionnaire. The outcome of this market engagement will help inform commissioners of the current and future capacity and capability of the market and will be considered with other evidence to inform the commissioning approach. It is possible that as a result of this exercise, a formal tender process may not be required but instead a simpler provider selection process will be undertaken. Where it is noted that competition is absent, direct awards may be considered. All providers will be notified of next steps following the conclusion of this market engagement exercise. An assurance process may be required if a direct award is recommended.

The questionnaire is available through the Atamis portal: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

The reference is C126605 and the closing date for submission of the completed questionnaire will be: 12pm midday on Thursday 16th February 2023.