NHS England South East - Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) across the South East

NHS England South East (NHSE) sought to commission a Provider(s) which had the capability and capacity to deliver Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) across the South East region, in line with the specified requirements.

The procurement was divided into 5 lots within the South East as follows:

Lot 1: Kent and Medway (ICB footprint)

Lot 2: Surrey Heartlands (ICB footprint)

Lot 3: Hampshire and IOW (ICB footprint)

Lot 4: Berkshire (Local Authority) and Frimley (ICB footprint)

Lot 5: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire (Local Authority footprint)

Providers were able to bid for one or all Lots.

Contracts are for a term of 5 years, with the option to extend for up to a further 3 years. Services are planned to commence from 1st April 2025.

The eligible population includes patients over the age of 12 diagnosed with diabetes and registered with, or eligible to be registered with a GP, as well as individuals within prisons, secure units, and the armed forces.

The aim of the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme is to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst people with diabetes by the prompt identification and effective treatment, if necessary, of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.

This should be achieved by delivering an evidence-based service that:

• focuses on improving uptake, reducing inequalities, and improving outcomes
• is accessible across all service elements
• is engaging, and integrated, working effectively with service users and stakeholders to ensure seamless and high-quality care
• is safe, effective, and high quality, with robust processes along the pathway
• embed a culture of quality, improvement, and learning
• is well-led, managed, and staffed

There are three key elements of service delivery, namely:

• routine digital screening - from 2025 and 2026, all eligible patients are to be managed on 12- or 24-month intervals
• digital surveillance where more frequent screening of those individuals who may be at increased risk of developing diabetic retinopathy but have not reached the threshold to be referred into the Hospital Eye Services (HES), as required
• slit lamp bio-microscopy (SLB) for those individuals where normal photography is inappropriate (e.g., those having cataracts)

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) will be introduced into the programme across England in line with national guidance.

The total contract values for the 5 year initial term were advertised as follows:

Lot 1: Kent and Medway - £17,755,303

Lot 2: Surrey Heartlands - £8,084,825

Lot 3: Hampshire and IOW - £16,695,800

Lot 4: Berkshire and Frimley - £11,311,121

Lot 5: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire - £9,927,015

This notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).

This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.