RFI - Unscheduled Primary Care Services for Fylde Coast

NHS Shared Business Services, on behalf of the NHS Blackpool and Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups, is seeking information from Providers which will be used to help determine the commissioning approach for the provision of Unscheduled Primary Care Services for the population of the Fylde Coast. This approach supports the CCGs obligations under the NHS (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition Regulations No. 2) 2013.

The CCGs are seeking to commission an integrated service via a single model, for example:

• A single provider capable of delivering all of the service in an integrated manner with all related services • An alliance of multiple provider organisations under one contract • A lead provider supported by Bidder Members with seamless organisational features

The need to enhance urgent and emergency care services in England and the new models of care which propose to do this are set out in the Five Year Forward View (5YFV). The vision for a more closely integrated urgent care is described in the Commissioning Standards for Urgent Care (September 2015). Currently the patient journey can involve a range of interventions by various providers with different contract arrangements. By combining the current elements and contracts in a structured safe clinical specification we will be better aligned to a collaborative delivery model and integrated service to meet the needs of patients and health professionals.

GP practices will remain the first point of contact for the majority of patients in future. However for those unable to access their own GP – because the practice is closed or they are away from home, NHS 111 will be the primary route to urgent care services. Access for urgent healthcare service builds upon NHS 111 and will help deliver the benefits set out in the Urgent and Emergency Care review led by Sir Bruce Keogh. The Government is committed to developing a coherent 24/7 urgent care service in every area of England that makes sense to patients when they have to make choices about their care and to drive the integration of services.

Your RFI response will also help the CCGs refine the service specification as well as inform the potential benefits of competition to improve services with regards to meeting the needs of service users, improving quality, value for money and better integration without destabilising service provision. You are therefore encouraged to respond to all questions as fully as you can to evidence the relative benefits of a potential competitive process.

The CCGs wish to commission a service that will deliver fully integrated Fylde Coast Urgent Care in which the provider(s) deliver high quality, clinical assessment, advice and treatment to shared standards and processes, with clear accountability and leadership. This RFI process supports the CCGs process to inform the route to contracting with the most capable provider.

Additional information: Please complete your response to this RFI by 13.00 on Thursday 17th March 2016 and send your response to chris_gough@nhs.net.