The Provision of an Adult Hearing Service on behalf of NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group

NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) are acting on behalf of NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), to obtain a Provider to deliver a high quality service for adults experiencing hearing and communication difficulties who feel they might benefit from a hearing assessment and rehabilitation including the option of trying hearing aids with aftercare and support, in line with the National Commissioning Framework, other national guidance and local requirements. The vision for people with hearing problems is for them to receive high quality, efficient services delivered closer to home, or a more convenient location within accessible transport routes, with short waiting times and high responsiveness to the needs of local communities, free at the point of access.

The key principles of an integrated hearing service, within which the Adult Hearing Service operates, is to:

•Improve public health and occupational health focus on hearing loss;

•Reduce prevalence of avoidable permanent hearing loss;

•Encourage early identification, diagnosis and management of hearing loss through improved service user and professional education;

•Provide person-centred care, and respond to information and psychosocial needs, including for the effect on partners (or service user's chosen support) of living with poor hearing; •Support communication needs by providing timely signposting to lip reading classes and assistive technologies and other rehabilitation services;

•Promote inclusion and participation of people who are deaf or hard of hearing;

•Compliance with clinical guidance and good practice; and

•Improve the service through research and development and the adoption of new evidence based technologies and practices.

Further information on the service can be located on the EU-Supply Website.

The affordability limit for the total Contract (including any potential extensions) is £4,180,000 and the Contract will be for the duration of a 3 year initial period with an option to extend for up to a further 2 years with a service commencement date of 1st October 2021. Bidders wishing to express an interest in participating in this Invitation to Tender (ITT) should register their interest on the EU-Supply Website to access the documentation using reference 38586. To register on EU-Supply please log on to the following Website: https://nhssbs.eu-supply.com. The ITT documentation should be completed and submitted by 3pm on 01st April 2021.

An advert has also been placed on FTS.