Dorset community endoscopy services - 2nd Wave

NHS Dorset and NHS Bournemouth and Poole, in partnership with their Clinical Commissiong Group colleagues, are seeking to commission Community Endoscopy services from suitably qualified healthcare providers.

The NHS supports the need to develop improved access to diagnostic tests as part of the drive to reduce waiting times and improve choice options for patients.  The need to develop community based diagnostic services is supported by the Royal College of General Practitioners as part of a service strategy to improve access to tests and ensure these tests are delivered at the right stage of the patient pathway.  The overarching aims of the service are:

• To ensure patients receive the right test at the right time and in the most clinically appropriate local setting;
• To ensure diagnostic testing is integrated across pathways of care, that the report and images follows the patient and that there is no unnecessary duplication of investigation;
• To enable patients and referring clinicians to access a choice of provision according to patient choice, clinical need and relevant care pathway; and
• To ensure diagnostic tests are appropriate, necessary, clinically correct, of high quality, with timely access and reporting.

The Commissioners require a direct access community diagnostic endoscopy service with staff qualified to appropriate levels of skill and experience, using endoscopy equipment and within facilities that comply with and/or have achieved JAG accreditation, connection to NHS information and image transfer solutions, the ability to integrate with the Choose and Book system, robust performance management systems and stringent levels of clinical governance.

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 who wish to offer these services must complete the qualification questionnaire which can only be accessed by clicking on the apply button at the top of the page on the advert on Supply2health website at http://www.supply2health.nhs.uk/5QN/Lists/AQPOffers/DispForm.aspx?ID=5 

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 June 2013. The deadline for completion of the qualification document is 12 noon on Tuesday 26 February 2013.