National Core20Plus5 Collaborative

The Authority is looking for a Supplier for the provision of organisations that are able to deliver a National Core20Collaborative that aligns the work of quality improvement experts, leaders, academics, thinktanks, policy makers and patients, in a short time frame.

Background Information:

Health inequalities are increasingly prevalent and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the need for swift action in tackling them at a national level. The agenda for change in this area is a high priority for the government, with Sir Michael Marmot launching a report at the Conservative Party Conference 2021 stating that the health inequalities are widening, especially after the pandemic affected the UK's poorest communities the hardest. It is a key deliverable in the second chapter of the NHS Long Term Plan, where the NHS has pledged to take more and stronger action to reduce health inequalities.

The Health Inequalities Improvement Team (HIIT) within NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) have developed a population identification framework, Core20Plus5, which is designed to offer direction and to help focus efforts on improving health inequalities. 'Core20' is the most deprived 20% of the national population as identified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and inclusion health groups such as people experiencing homelessness, for example. The 'Plus' groups are those who have been identified by ICSs that are experiencing poorer than average experience, access and/or outcomes of health but are not captured within the 'Core20'. These groups can include those living in rural/coastal areas, those with mulitmorbidities, ethnic minority communities and more. The '5' signifies the HIIT's five key clinical areas which have been identified as areas of concern. They are; hypertension case-finding and management, early cancer diagnosis, improving COPD, achieving continuity of maternity carer and annual health checks for those with severe mental illness.

To aid the launch of Core20Plus5 the HIIT and NHSEI are seeking organisations that are able to deliver a National Core20Collaborative that aligns the work of quality improvement experts, leaders, academics, thinktanks, policy makers and patients, in a short time frame. Delivery on this needs to be swift because national action on tackling health inequalities is already overdue.

Standards and Service Specification:

We are looking to commission a Core20Collaborative that puts quality improvement at the forefront of its operation to support the rapid launch and delivery of health inequalities improvement through the Core20Plus5 programme, approved by the NHS England and NHS Improvement Board in June 2021.