NHS South Yorkshire ICB Rotherham Place : Minor Eye Service

Concepts

• health services
• minor eye service
• nhs south yorkshire icb
• sheffield
• rotherham minor eye service
• nhs
• nhs rotherham ccg
• south yorkshire
• connect healthcare rotherham cic
• hdthe service

Location

Rotherham, South Yorkshire

Description

NHS South Yorkshire ICB (the ‘Authority'), formerly NHS Rotherham CCG, intends to extend the contract for the Rotherham Minor Eye Service (MES) without competition until 31 March 2024 to the incumbent providers as detailed below:Connect Healthcare Rotherham CIC, Valley Health Centre, Saville Street, Dalton, Rotherham S65 3HDThe service provides triage and treatment to patients who are navigated from primary care, NHS 111 or self-referral into a telephone triage service to discuss their issue with an optometrist. If the patient requires a face-to-face appointment this would be provided within 3 days for a routine issue or within 24 hours if the issue was urgent.

Total Quantity or Scope

The Authority is of the view that it is in the best interest of Rotherham residents to make a direct award of contract to Connect Healthcare Rotherham CIC for a further 12 months for the following reasons:• The South Yorkshire Integrated Care System continues to go through a period of significant transition as a direct consequence of Covid-19 and due to legislation changes in the National Health Service• The model delivered by the provider since June 2022 has seen increased activity through the service, with a reduction being seen in relation to referrals through to secondary care Ophthalmology services.• A service change during this period is very likely to have significant negative impact on Elective Recovery due to increases in referrals, as well as increased numbers of patients reverting to accessing primary care (GP) services• The prolonged impact of Covid 19 and subsequent service recovery efforts have prevented adequate collection of Outcomes Data to enable a thorough assessment of the service model.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 85100000 - Health services

Indicators

Legal Justification

TransitionOn 1st July 2022 the original contracting Authority, NHS Rotherham CCG, ceased to exist and was replaced with NHS South Yorkshire ICB. All CCG responsibilities and liabilities were transferred to the new organisation, including the Rotherham Minor Eye Service. The ICB will continue to operate as four places, each with a funding allocation and a strategy to meet the needs of the local people. However, the legislative changes have a significant impact on how decisions are made, including stronger partnership working across the system. As the decision-making structures are in development, the Authority feels it is not appropriate to make a decision on the future MES model until these structures are in place. Elective RecoveryOphthalmology services within secondary care are averaging at around 20 weeks for a first outpatient appointment. Exiting the service model in June 2023 would result in:• Additional pressure on Primary Care services as there will be no single point of access• Poorer patient experience as without the triage service patients will potentially be referred and re-referred to different specialties• Increased health inequalities as new referrals could be sent directly to providers with the shortest waits while those already in the queue continue to wait 52+ weeksContinuation of the current service afford the local system with much needed stability.Outcomes DataThe ICB’s decision to extend to March 2024 was in recognition of the positive findings of the review in relation to managing the service, increased numbers of patients being actively managed, positive patient feedback, innovation and partnership working. A key priority for the contract extension term is to further develop the collection of outcomes data and its use in decision making. This will include further development of KPIs and reporting mechanisms.SummaryThe additional extension for 12 months will ensure that services remain in place for Rotherham patients while the Integrated Care System works to deliver Elective Recovery. It is the Authority’s intention to review the service model during this time, with a decision to be made on the future service model by 30th September 2023 and any agreed changes transacted during the remaining contract term.The Authority has determined the contract value of the Minor Eye Service for 2023/24 to be a block value of £123,000.