Lincolnshire AQP - Adult Hearing Loss Service (age 50 and over) - Potential new Window

This notice is to ascertain whether there is market interest in opening a window for new providers to join the contract for the Provision of Any Qualified Provider (AQP) for Adult Hearing Service (age 50 and over) for Lincolnshire.

The service is for suitably qualified providers who have experience of delivering Adult Hearing Loss Services (to those aged 50 and over). Providers must have the ability to deliver a comprehensive patient-centred direct access adult hearing service for age related hearing loss in line with national guidance and local requirements. Delivering a high quality, efficient service closer to home, with short waiting times and a high level of responsiveness to the needs of local communities.

The Adult Hearing Loss Service is aimed at adults (aged 50 and over) experiencing difficulties with their hearing and communication who feel they might benefit from hearing assessment and care including the option of trying hearing aids to reduce these difficulties. The service will be comprehensive and will be in line with the National Commissioning Framework, other national guidance and will met local requirements.

The key principles of the service are:

• Compliance with established clinical guidelines and good practice.
• Encourage early identification, diagnosis and management of hearing loss through improved patient and professional education
• Provide person-centred care and devices tailored to service user need
• Respond to information and the psychosocial needs of service users including families and carers of those living with poor hearing
• Provide timely signposting to lip reading classes and assistive technologies and other rehabilitation services
• Promote inclusion and participation of people who are deaf or hard or hearing
• Improve the service through research and development and the adoption of new evidence based technologies and practices
• Ensure that NHS resource is used economically and wisely for the benefit of the local population
• Improve public health and occupational health focus on hearing loss;
• Reduce prevalence of avoidable permanent hearing loss;

All providers of Adult Hearing Services must ensure that there are local arrangements for referral into more specialist medical services in line with British Academy of Audiology (BAA) Guidelines .

The purpose of the Adult Hearing Service is to ensure:

• Equitable access to high and consistent quality care for all people using the service;
• A safe hearing service that conforms to the accreditation standards set out in the Improving Quality In Physiological Diagnostic Services (IQIPS) Accreditation Scheme;
• The service should also recognise published clinical guidelines and good practice (as set out in Section 4 - Applicable Service Standards).

If you wish to take part in a further tender window opening opportunity, please email sarah.trupp@nhs.net, by 06/12/2019