Digital First, Online Consultation and Video Consultation (DFOCVC) Framework

NHS England and NHS Improvement are seeking to establish a Digital First Online Consultation and Video Consultation Framework (DFOCVC), which will operate under the existing Digital Care Services Catalogue. Further information on the Catalogue can be found at https://buyingcatalogue.digital.nhs.uk/.

This new framework will replace elements of the existing Dynamic Purchasing System (OJEU contract notice reference: 2020/S 063-151950) and GP IT Futures Framework (OJEU contract notice reference: 2019/S 097-235142) as the preferred framework vehicle for customers to purchase the in-scope services.

In addition to primary care, other health and social care organisations that purchase services via this framework may include, but are not limited to, Secondary Care Providers, Community Pharmacies, Urgent Care providers, Ambulance Trusts, Optometry and Dentistry providers.

NHS England has responsibility for delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan commitment that patients will have the right to digital first primary care by 2023/24. This work includes the commitment to support online consultation in general practice which began under the GP Forward View.

NHSE/I intend to add the provision of General Practice medical services to the DFOCVC framework at a later date under the contractual change process. The addition of the medical services will have the following features:

1. Medical services will only be able to be supplied by a supplier to a service recipient that is in receipt of their online and/or video consultation services.
2. The medical services will be subject to additional terms and conditions that are appropriate to their provision.
3. Suppliers will be required to provide utilisation reports regarding the provision of the medical services to NHSE/I.

The framework will support NHS England in its delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan commitment that every patient will have the right to be offered digital-first primary care by 2023/24. The framework will build on from the online consultation programme, which was originally introduced under the GP Forward View and which has been expanded under NHS England's Dynamic Purchasing system and through Digital Care Services GPIT Futures Framework. Alignment of the new framework within Digital Care Services Catalogue will support NHS England's ambition to have a sole procurement route for primary care, which will provide a unified set of centrally understood standards.

The Digital Care Services Catalogue Authority have developed new capabilities and standards to more accurately reflect the requirements of Online and Video Consultation solutions. Supplier solutions will be required to meet the requirements of the Capability and Standards model as set out at the following URL: https://gpitbjss.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DFOCVCL/overview?homepageId=5132484853 The NHS England National and Commercial Procurement Hub (commissioned from the SCW CSU) will facilitate this procurement process for the Framework Authority.

Additional information: The scope of the DFOCVC Framework may be subject to variation throughout its lifetime.

Any such change will be subject to full approval and economic operators will be notified of any such planned changes.

It is envisaged that this framework, once established, will be used by the following public sector bodies (and all successors thereto).

The National Health Service Commissioning Board (known as NHS England);

Any other health service body as defined at section 9 National Health Service Act 2006, including but not limited to:

any Clinical Commissioning Group;

any NHS Trust;

any Special Health Authority;

The Care Quality Commission;

The Secretary of State;

a Local Health Board;

NHS Foundation Trusts;

Academic Health Science Networks;

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, known as NICE;

The Health and Social Care Information Centre, known as NHS Digital;

NHS Improvement (the operational name of Monitor and the National Health Service Trust Development Authority);

Health Education England and Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs);

NHS Health Research Authority;

The Department of Health and Social Care;

National Institute of Health Research;

Executive agencies of the Department of Health and Social Care including but not limited to Public Health England, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency;

Arms-Length Bodies and executive non-departmental public bodies of the Department of Health not otherwise listed above including but not limited to NHS Blood and Transplant, NHS Business Services Authority, NHS Litigation Authority (known as NHS Resolution), the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, and the Human Tissue Authority;

All Local Authorities of England, as defined under section 1 the Local Government Act 2000 including Health and Well Being Boards established by any Local Authority;

The Ministry of Justice and its executive agencies including but not limited to Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service;

Health Service of Northern Ireland (HSNI);

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Northern Ireland)

Health and Social Care Board of Northern Ireland

Health Agencies in Northern Ireland

The Business Services Organisation

All entities constituted pursuant to the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (i.e. all NHS Scotland Health Boards, Special Health Boards and the Common Services Agency), independent contractors to NHS Scotland (i.e. general medical practitioners) and the Scottish Prison Service NHS Bodies in Wales, including (without limitation) the 7 Local Health Boards and the 3 NHS Trusts in Wales

GP Practices in Wales

This Framework may be used by non-Contracting Authorities to place Call Off Agreements. Further details are in the OJEU notice.