Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System in respect of Rapid Specialist Opinion / Referral Management Service.

North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) for and on behalf of NHS North Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS North Tyneside CCG, NHS South Tees CCG, NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield, NHS Darlington CCG and NHS Hartlepool and Stockton-On-Tees CCG will be holding an information event on Monday 5 March 2018 to provide information to the market in respect of implementing a Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System in respect of Rapid Specialist Opinion (RSO) / Referral Management Service (RMS).

The aims of the RSO / RMS is as follows: • To provide an end-to-end RSO / RMS solution (from referral, to triage, to booking) • To reduce the number of inappropriate referrals from primary care to other services • To support the commissioner to implement a local RSO / RMS process (receiving and reviewing referrals from all General Practitioners) including provision of training to support rapid mobilisation • To check that referrals meet clinical criteria and that primary care pathways have been followed before processing them and take agreed action when they do not • To deliver up to date feedback to referrers on compliance by clinicians with knowledge and understanding of local pathways and guidelines • To provide clinical advice and guidance to referrers on further action relating to alternative management or actions required prior to, or as an alternative to, re-referral (including signposting to local pathways and guidelines). • All referrals to be triaged by a Consultant, GP with Special Interests (GPSI) or Extended Scope Practitioner (ESP).

Commissioners may vary this requirement further to include additional practitioners (eg Optometrist with Special Interests (OwSI) and this will be subject to further discussion and agreement on an individual basis. • To ensure referrals meet Value Based Care Checker (VBCC) policies and take agreed action when they do not. • To deliver a cost effective service and make the best use of resources There will also be an opportunity for potential providers to view and provide feedback on a draft service specification for RMS via a Request for Information (RFI) exercise in respect of North Durham, North Tyneside and South Tees CCGs.

Organisations wishing to know further details and to register their interest in attending the information event, must access the website below: https://www.proactisplaza.com/SupplierPortal/?CID=NECS If bidders are responding to the RFI exercise, they are required to submit the RFI response document by 12 noon on Wednesday 28 February 2018.

Should you have any queries, or are having problems registering on the portal, please contact the eTendering provider by Email: Suppliersupport@proactis.com or Website: http://proactis.kayako.com/suppliernetwork/Core/Default/Index (Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5.00pm).

Please note that information regarding the event and RFI exercise will be made available on the e-tendering portal from Wednesday 14 February 2018.