Community dermatology services for Dorset
NHS Dorset and NHS Bournemouth and Poole, in partnership with their Clinical Commissioning Group colleagues, wish to commission Community Dermatology Services from suitably qualified healthcare providers.
Skin conditions are the most frequent reason for people to consult their GP with a new problem. Around 24% of the population of England and Wales visited their GP with a skin problem in 2006 with the most common reasons being skin infections and eczema.
Changes in health service provision, predicated by re-organisations and the need to commission high quality cost effective services, has in part driven the move to deliver certain services and specialities more appropriately in the community setting.
Dermatology is a specialty specifically identified by the Department of Health as being suitable for the relocation of a large proportion of work from secondary to primary care under the ‘Shifting Care Closer to Home’ policy. Care closer to home refers to offering patients more choice of provider and more convenient access to services.
Across NHS Dorset and NHS Bournemouth and Poole the provision of community based dermatology services have varied in terms of diagnostic access due to a lack of surgical capability. This has meant patients being referred to secondary care services for diagnostic biopsy and non complex lesion removal.
The aim is to commission a local Primary Care led Community Intermediate Dermatology Service which:
- Delivers high quality dermatology service within a primary care setting;
- Improves patient access to dermatology care, diagnostics and treatment within the community;
- Improves patient choice;
- Reduces waiting times for treatment;
- Reduces inappropriate referrals to secondary care;
- Reduces first and follow up out-patient attendances in secondary care;
- Improves education and training structures for GP’s and Nurses in Primary Care;
- Improves the patient management of long term skin disease; and
- Promotes the development of specialisation in primary care.
The successful provider(s) will be expected to sign the relevant national NHS contract for the service, accepting all terms and conditions.
It should be noted that under the AQP PCT- accredited Provider Model, there will be no guarantees of volume payments in the contract award.
The service will be commissioned using the Any Qualified Provider process. In securing services under the AQP process assurance of competence, quality and safety standards is required. Any provider will be eligible to join the qualified provider list subject to demonstrating competency against specified criteria. Qualified providers will be expected to deliver the service under the NHS Standard Contract. As a qualified provider there are no levels of guaranteed activity. Payment is made based on actual provision.
Providers will be required to complete the qualification questionnaire which can only be accessed by clicking on the apply button on the Supply2health website page at http://www.supply2health.nhs.uk/5QN/Lists/AQPOffers/DispForm.aspx?ID=4
In Section 7.1 Providers must provide 3 years full financial accounts. All relevant documentation associated with this offer can be downloaded on the right of this page.
Service will commence from 01 September 2012 and contracts will be awarded initially until 31 March 2013. The deadline for completion of the qualification questionnaire which is on Supply2health is 12 noon on Tuesday 24 April 2012.
