Public procurement notice: Modification Of A Contract/Concession During Its Term
Published: 2018-11-14
Buyer: Basildon and Brentwood; Castle Point and Rochford; Mid Essex; Southend and Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Groups
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 85100000: Health services

Technical requirements: The mid and south Essex Ophthalmology system is under significant pressure. Demand for services continues to increase beyond levels explained through demographic changes. The acute centric model of care that has evolved over recent years is no longer fit for purpose to manage the increasing demands placed upon it, nor is it a financially viable or sustainable operating model for the future. The mid and south Essex system partners need to redress the current imbalance
Between the capacity available within community services and patient demand and start the journey towards a more financially sustainable and clinically appropriate model of care.
System leaders have explored ways in which the system can support a move of clinically appropriate activity being managed in the community setting thus reducing demand on the hospital eye services.
The commissioning case presented a suite of proposals identified by the wider ‘system’ that will start to restore that balance whilst enabling progression towards the vision of resilient out of hospital models of care as set out in the CCG operating plans and the wider Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP). The system can do this by increasing the ability of community services to respond to less clinically complex requests for care with clinical oversight to ensure high quality provision is maintained through a lead provider arrangement.
The following activity will stay within Consultant led Hospital provision and there is no intention to change provision or contracting of these services:
The development of community ophthalmology services will meet the current NHS strategy to increase access to care closer to home, respond to the growing need for community services in order to relieve the burden on the acute sector and provide quality of care to patients who require this element of ophthalmic care. Ophthalmology services available locally will reduce the need for patients to travel to acute hospitals for care that could appropriately be offered in the primary care setting.
The community ophthalmology service consists of a consultant delivered triage service and a fully managed community based minor eye conditions service to complement the existing community pathways. The key outcomes of this service are best value for money resulting in high levels of patient satisfaction and a reduced burden on hospital eye services allowing them to concentrate on acute eye conditions that need consultant input.
(a) receipt and recording of all referrals from community optometrists, GPs and other recognised clinicians whether by electronic or paper means of delivery;
(b) provision of an advice and guidance facility for primary care clinicians to receive advice without the need for formal referral;
(e) implementation of necessary failsafe processes to ensure that no patient is “lost” and that all referrals accepted into the acute hospital eye service are risk stratified and booked according to risk and length of wait;
2) Delivery of community based minor eye conditions service, through management of sub-contractors, ensuring high quality clinical outcomes, good access (geographically and timeliness) and excellent patient experience covering:
The development of community ophthalmology services will meet the current NHS strategy to increase access to care closer to home, respond to the growing need for community services in order to relieve the burden on the acute sector and provide quality of care to patients who require this element of ophthalmic care. Ophthalmology services available locally will reduce the need for patients to travel to acute hospitals for care that could appropriately be offered in the primary care setting.
The community ophthalmology service consists of a consultant delivered triage service and a fully managed community based minor eye conditions service to complement the existing community pathways. The key outcomes of this service are best value for money resulting in high levels of patient satisfaction and a reduced burden on hospital eye services allowing them to concentrate on acute eye conditions that need consultant input.
(a) receipt and recording of all referrals from community optometrists, GPs and other recognised clinicians whether by electronic or paper means of delivery;
(b) provision of an advice and guidance facility for primary care clinicians to receive advice without the need for formal referral;


Winner: Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust