Expressions of Interest for the Delivery of Tier 3 Weight Management Services across Derbyshire

NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (NHS Arden & GEM CSU) on behalf of NHS Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (SDCCG) acting as lead Commissioners on behalf of the Derbyshire CCG's including NHS Erewash, Hardwick and North Derbyshire CCG's are inviting Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified providers capable of delivering Tier 3 Weight Management Service for patients registered within Derbyshire.

The Commissioners are assessing the markets interest, capabilities and capacity to provide a Tier 3 service for a multi-disciplinary (e.g. including a physician, dietician, psychologist with a special interest in obesity etc.), specialist weight management services which support people with severe obesity and complex needs over a long period of time (e.g. 12-24 months). These services will often include pharmacotherapy and behavioural intervention also.

The key aims of this service will be to support people to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. NICE PH42 recommends the development of a sustainable and community-wide approach to obesity (NICE, 2012). It is envisaged that the Service will also contribute to reducing inequalities in obesity prevalence by providing an equitable service including targeted, evidence-based weight management support to identified priority groups.

The CCG's vision is to;

• ensure systems are in place to allow people to access or receive support from an obesity pathway.
• to contribute to reducing adult obesity prevalence in Derby City and Derbyshire County by providing an evidence-based, person-centred service for people who are severely overweight, with or without co-morbidities.

The key Objectives of the Service will be to;

• to provide a triage and case management service that identifies, with eligible service users, the best weight management journey for them and continues for up to 12-24 months as needed.
• to provide an appropriate mix of specialist interventions (e.g. behavioural, dietetic, pharmacological etc.) to support weight management, meet client needs and achieve service outcomes.
• to work with statutory services to support eligible service users into existing community and voluntary sector support for diet, lifestyle and physical activity.
• to provide and manage a service that is equitable and accessible by clients who wish to access it.
• to ensure robust quality assurance systems at all levels of the Service.
• to promote the Service, motivating eligible patients to consider weight-loss and access the Service.

Additional information: The aim of the expression of interest exercise is to:

1. Support the CCGs informed decision making on the potential options on the future commissioning of these services.
2. To help refine the commissioning and procurement approach and;
3. To gauge the level of interest from the market of capable providers with Capacity across Derbyshire to deliver the services illustrated above. This is a market testing exercise and does not commit the CCG to carry out a procurement process. Current services will remain in place during this period in line with existing contracts and service level agreements.

Bidders who have expressed an interest in this market testing exercise will have the opportunity to submit a separate response to the Contract Notice as applicable.

You can express an interest in this market testing exercise by registering your organisation on the Bravo website:

https://ardengemcsu.bravosolution.co.uk. The pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) reference is PQQ_425. Once registered, please complete the questions in the qualification envelope which asks providers to give details about your organisation's name and postal address, email address, contact name and number. Your response should also include capability and previous experience of delivering this or a similar level of engagement.

The deadline for submitting a response for this market testing exercise is 12pm (noon) 20th September 2017.