Provision of Community Orthodontic Services

The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust (IHT) is commissioned via NHS England to provide Oral and Orthodontic services. IHT have developed a specification outlining the provision of acute and community elements of the service as an overall integrated model of care. To achieve this aspiration IHT are seeking to identify a community provider(s) who would deliver orthodontic services in west Suffolk, east Suffolk and north east Essex localities who are capable of delivering the community based activity, and who are willing to integrate with the existing acute services to provide end to end pathways. The aim of the integrated service will be to improve accessibility, reduce waiting times, and deliver a seamless integrated model of care. The total annual budget for the community element is anticipated to be 350,000 GBP. This is an estimation due to the potential for change associated with how the acute and community elements of provision are aligned over the lifetime of the contract.

Community partners will be required to assess and undertake treatment in line with the scope of practice in the community, accessing Consultant advice and guidance where appropriate, and ensuring onward referral for patients who are not suitable for community management. It is anticipated that any procurement which follows this notice would include the following services:

• Assessment of the need for and level of Orthodontic Treatment required.
• Diagnostic investigation where appropriate including X-rays.
• Orthodontic Outpatient treatment, including the fitting of braces and other orthosis.
• Referral to Dental Practitioners as appropriate for the extraction of teeth.
• Referral to Oral Surgeons for more major Oral Surgery interventions as required for the progression of the Orthodontic Treatment.
• Referral to other Health Service Practitioners as necessary.
• The preparation of impressions for the creation of Orthodontic moulds and Models

The service provider(s) will be expected to deliver the Orthodontic services from its own orthodontic or dental practice(s) located within the geographic area of west and east Suffolk or north east Essex. Premises will be expected to be of a standard befitting an orthodontic practice as required by law and carry the necessary insurances and indemnities.

The purpose of this notice is to invite providers to contact IHT if they are potentially interested in delivering the required services. This PIN is not commencing a procurement process; any future procurement activity in relation to the services that are the subject of this PIN may be the subject of a separate notice. The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust is not liable for any costs incurred by those expressing an interest in this process. To express an interest and receive a copy of the draft service specification please email the named contact in this advert by 12:00 27/01/2017.