Enhanced Respiratory Service

This is a Contract Award Notice to communicate a contract award made by the Contracting Authority; Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, (hereinafter referred to as "the Authority") in compliance with their local standing financial instructions (SFIs).

On 29th December 2023, the Authority published a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice (VEAT) (Reference 2023/S 000-038040) to inform the market of its intention to award the contract. The Authority applied a voluntary 10-day standstill period prior to conclusion of the contract. The contract award is made to Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) for the provision of Enhanced Respiratory services.

The new contract will start on 1st December 2024 and will end on 30th November 2025. The value of this new proposed contract is £7,400,000.

The service with CLCH was awarded via a competitive tender and originally began on 1st December 2016. The total cumulative value of the contract since it started is approximately £20,000,000 (excluding VAT and excluding the value of this new contract). The current contract will end on 30th November 2023.

The current South and West Hertfordshire Integrated Respiratory Service brings together the patient, primary, community and secondary care clinicians to enhance the care of patients with respiratory disease. The service also provides support for patients with potentially more severe symptoms and who are at risk of rapid deterioration or acute admission.

The service will also Provide:

• A Single Point of Access triage hub for all respiratory referrals

• A medical led triage with direct advice and guidance to reduce unnecessary referral and ensure the patient is appropriately clinically managed in the correct setting.

• Consultant led MDTs

• Respiratory Population Review Meetings (PRMs) at PCN level

• Provision of respiratory outpatient clinics at an appropriate level for the agreed pathways

• Provision of domicilary visits for the assessment of housebound patients

• Provision of targeted Education programmes to Healthcare Professionals (including at PCN level)

• Provision of education and support to patients who are under the care of the service and when their condition becomes unstable, this could include the use of Apps like MyCOPD and MyAsthma.

• Accredited Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services

• Domicilary OSAS services including CPAP

• Chest Physiotherapy

• Advice and guidance to local Respiratory Diagnostic Hubs

Additional information:

NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex have been working with system partners to review and redesign the Enhanced Respiratory Service to ensure that it meets the needs of our patient population. This new contractual period will allow continuation of that service redesign and transformation, allowing a tried and tested model to inform the ICBs strategic model of care for respiratory.

To procure the service at this stage will destabilise the good work which has been delivered to date and hinder our ability to ensure that we achieve a high quality service for our patients.