Community Audiology Service in Brent

The community audiology service was commissioned to continue to support the agenda of delivering care closer to patients' home, improve health and wellbeing and quality of care and support to the Brent GP registered population. Thus, eliminating unwarranted variation in care and improving the management of long-term eye conditions. The service was commissioned to augment acute capacity and help improve waiting times as well as providing patients with a choice.

The provider provides assessment and rehabilitation services for hearing impaired people who are referred under the service provision and provide: • An initial assessment of their hearing problem and to determine whether they might benefit from hearing aids; • Advice and guidance as existing users of hearing aids.

The scope of the service includes the assessment and fitting of hearing aids and counselling in line with national guidance and the NWL diagnostics pathway. The services are delivered at least to the standards provided under the NHS Hearing Aid services MHAS programme and in accordance with current clinical protocols specified by the British Society of Audiology and the British Academy of Audiology.

Additional information: Along with 7 other CCGs in the area, NHS Brent Clinical Commissioning Group has been incorporated into a new CCG from 1st April 2021 - North West London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). A period of review is required from April 2021 to agree the future model of care and to identify the commissioning strategies for services across NW London for the coming year and beyond.

The existing contract is therefore being modified to extend its duration for an interim period of 6 months in order to enable this review to take place

This contract modification is assessed to be proportionate and lawful under Regulation 72(1)(b)

The existing contract is being modified through contract variation to extend its term by 6 months which will increase the overall value of the contract by £160,000 during this additional term.