NHS Nene and NHS Corby CCGs are seeking to engage with providers and gauge market interest in the potential for procuring an integrated unscheduled care service incorporating GP Extended Hours (NHS Nene) and GP Out of Hours (across NHS Nene and NHS Corby CCG's).

Whilst the services are concerned with unscheduled access to primary care provision, they should be aligned with commissioning intentions in regards to the delivery of an IUC Clinical Assessment Service (CAS) in accordance with the national IUC Service Specification (NHS England, August 2017).

NHS Nene CCG will be looking to suitably qualified and experienced organisations to develop GP extended access as per the NHSE 7 core requirements to begin in Oct 2018.

We are also seeking suitably qualified and experienced organisations to provide GP out of hours from April 2019.

There is an opportunity for providers to work collaboratively across both services or create integrated service offers.

Procurement is likely to be in 2 lots with an option for interested providers to place a bid for an integrated service that covers both lots.

The aim over time will be to offer the public a single entry point (NHS 111) to fully integrated services in which organisations collaborate to deliver high quality, clinical assessment, advice and treatment and to shared standards and processes with clear accountability and leadership.

It is imperative therefore that the services allow for movement of patients seamlessly from one element of the system to the other, streamlining the experience for patients, reducing unnecessary waiting and inefficiency.

The services will need to be committed to empowering the population to self-care and to innovation, through online and digital provision, in order to make it easier for the public to access rapid health advice and care.

The service will assess patients working in partnership with the wider care system across ambulance, primary, community, secondary, mental health, social care and the voluntary sector.

It is the intention of commissioners that the provider(s) will deliver the two components of this service to function in a highly integrated and cohesive way delivering the most appropriate clinical response to meet individual need and reducing unnecessary hospitalisation.

Interested providers will be invited to a market place event to explore opportunities which will be held on 3rd May 2018.

If you would be interested in attending this event, please email your details to NELCSU.ProcurementNorthants@nhs.net by no later than 5.00pm on Friday 13th April 2018.

Please note that only two delegates per organisation can be accommodated.