II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
33185000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKK4
Main site or place of performance:
East Devon.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Devon CCG have appointed a provider in the Eastern locality of NHS Devon CCG to ensure delivery of all audiology services, both routine and complex services for all children and adults. This will be a pilot initially to inform future commissioning decisions for audiology services across the county of Devon.
The aim is to provide a comprehensive service for both adults and children experiencing hearing and hearing related communication difficulties who feel they might benefit from audiology assessment and rehabilitation including the option of hearing aid fittings in line with the national commissioning framework, other national guidance and local requirements.
The vision for people with hearing problems is for them to receive high quality, efficient services delivered closer to home, with short waiting times and high responsiveness to the needs of local communities, free at the point of access.
Key principles of an integrated hearing service is to:
— improve public health and occupational health focus on hearing loss,
— reduce prevalence of avoidable permanent hearing loss,
— encourage early identification, diagnosis and management of hearing loss through improved service user and professional education,
— provide person-centred care, and respond to information and psychosocial needs, including for the effect on partners/carers of living with poor hearing,
— support communication needs by providing timely signposting to lip reading classes and assistive technologies and other rehabilitation services,
— promote inclusion and participation of people who are deaf or hard of hearing,
— compliance with clinical guidance and good practice,
— improve the service through research and development and the adoption of new evidence based technologies and practices.
The appointed provider will ensure that there are local arrangements for referral into more specialist medical services in line with British Academy of Audiology (BAA) guidelines for direct referral of adults with hearing difficulty to audiology services (2016) and British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (BSHAA) Protocol and Criteria for Referral for Medical or other Specialist Opinion (2011).
The purpose of the audiology service is to ensure:
— equitable access to high and consistent quality care for all people using the service,
— a safe hearing service that conforms to the accreditation standards set out in the Improving Quality In Physiological Diagnostic Services (IQIPS) accreditation scheme,
— the service should also recognise published clinical guidelines and good practice (as set out in Section 4 — Applicable Service Standards).
The service will comprise of the following:
— adult hearing services,
— paediatric care,
— audiology disability,
— balance disorders, Tinnitus and Hyperacusis,
— hearing therapy,
— bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA).
This procurement was carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Service delivery
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Patient experience
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Patient safety and quality
/ Weighting: 10
Quality criterion: Workforce and OD
/ Weighting: 15
Quality criterion: Implementation
/ Weighting: 15
Quality criterion: IM&T
/ Weighting: 10
Cost criterion: Finance
/ Weighting: 10
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The initial contract is for a term of 2 years and 10 months. The commencement date is 1 June 2019. At the end of the 2 years and 10 months term the commissioner will have options to extend the initial period up to a maximum of a further 2 years.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (‘the Regulations’) which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the ‘Light Touch Regime’ contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).