II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

85100000

II.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS code:

UKL22

II.2.4) Description of the procurement

Endoscopy waiting lists in Wales continue to face significant pressure. During the height of the pandemic the provision of diagnostic, therapeutic and surveillance endoscopy collapsed. Today, as capacity returns slowly towards normal, the numbers of patients waiting for endoscopy has spiralled. Patients deemed non-urgent such as those waiting for surveillance colonoscopy and those thought to be at less risk of cancer continue to wait due to the lack of capacity. There is evidence that even patients with high risk symptoms or positive screening tests are also having to wait far longer than desirable. Some patients admitted as in-patients and needing to have an endoscopic examination before discharge are waiting in precious hospital beds until a slot can be found in the endoscopy department for the procedure.

Current endoscopy technology is reusable and capital costs are between GBP60,000.00 to GBP100,000.00 per endoscope. After each use, the endoscope needs to be decontaminated using specialist units costing roughly GBP1 million per year to run.

Endoscopy waiting lists represent a continuing challenge for the NHS in Wales. The additional demand exceeds available capacity therefore, increasing the value secured through spend on endoscopy is critical to secure a sustainable future for the service.

The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) are looking to offer the opportunity to rapidly assess and develop novel solutions and technologies that have the potential to accelerate disruptive innovation in reducing the burden of work on endoscopy suites, which could cover several areas such as (but not limited to):

- New training methods to upskill Health Care Professionals to improve the quality of referrals and increase workforce capacity

- New endoscopy procedures

- Faster decontamination/cleaning/workflow systems

- Development and/or implementation of new non-invasive technology

- AI/advance analytics to monitor, manage and signpost patients on the waiting list

The aims are as follows;

- Better management of demand, ensuring maximum value is delivered by the service

- People will get a diagnosis sooner

- Improved capacity within the service

- Fewer complications

-Improved recovery and discharge from hospital

II.2.14) Additional information

Any interested parties should email Emma Lane, Senior Procurement Business Manager with their contact details, a short description of potential opportunities and their experience in the applicable field.

Further details on the project will then follow.