Dorset Integrated Urgent Care Service (DIUCS)

NHS England mandated that every ICB have an Integrated Urgent Care Service and issued the 'Integrated Urgent Care Service Specification' in August in 2017. An updated service specification is due to be released in 2025.

The market has seen significant change over the past decade driven by COVID-19, digital advances and greater patient choice. The NHS Long Term Plan outlined NHS 111 maintaining its place as the 'first line of defence' for the Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) system.

The core vision for the revised service is to build on the success of Dorset Integrated Urgent Care Service (DIUCS) in simplifying access for patients, meeting their needs and increasing the confidence that the public have in the service. Taking into consideration changes Nationally, including the introduction of guidance to develop a Care Coordination Hub, which could be the foundations of a revised specification due for release by NHS England.

DIUCS provides a service to all 810,000 people registered with a Dorset GP Practice. The current service receives on average 30,738 calls a month and provides both call handler capability and a Clinical Assessment Service. Our longer-term aim for this service is to align to Integrated Neighbourhoods Teams and strengthening the urgent care offer to reduce unplanned attendance to our Acute front doors.

The focus of our service specification is outcome based with key concentration on:

• Equity of access
• Interoperability across our Urgent Care pathway
• Digital opportunities for consult and complete models

NHS Commissioning Standards, local emergency and urgent care strategies will continue to evolve over the life of the contract to improve efficiency and integration across the Service User journey pathway. Given this continual change it is anticipated that there will be service changes to ensure that the service remains compliant with NHS Commissioning Standards and local emergency and urgent care strategies.

The commencement of new contract must be aligned to 1st April 2026.