Provision of Urgent Award Community Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Services on behalf of NHS Mid and South Essex ICB

This is an updated notice and replaces Notice Number 2025/S 000-08731 and Notice Reference 2025-0410587due to these services being impacted by the community MSK and pain service procurement. This is a change to the original notification The Contract Term is to reduce uncertainty for the Providers and to ensure continuity of service. Originally the award was approved by Executive Committee in November 2024 as an award for 7 months with an option to extend for 5 months. The Contract Term shall now be for 12 months, with a 3 months' notice period. The current procurement timeline is indicating a new service may start on 1st February 2026, but this is subject to change.

A Community Carpal Tunnel Decompression service for adults that supports the appropriate management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the community and reduces the number of referrals to the acute unless complex decompression procedure is necessary. This ensures that decompression surgery is only provided when conservative treatment has failed to reduce symptoms.

There is a need for an urgent award of contracts for Community Carpal Tunnel Decompression service for adults for a period of 12 months from the 1st April 2025 to the 31st March 2026) to ensure sufficient time for the procurement and that there is no risk to patient safety through increased (long) waiting times unless an arrangement is in place for 1 April 2025 as all access would then be referred into MSEFT who have confirmed they cannot absorb the activity within current capacity.

The current contract with the incumbent (BMI Circle Southend Private hospital) expires on 31st March 2025 and as a consequence there is a requirement to award this contract. The value is a £0 value contract - paid at local prices - planning value for 2025-26 is £337,527.