Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Services - Hertfordshire

Concepts

• health services
• welwyn garden city
• nhs hertfordshire
• hertfordshire
• nhs continuing healthcare
• service disruption
• continuing healthcare
• continue
• healthcare
• continuity

Location

Welwyn Garden City

Description

This notice is to inform the market that a contract has been awarded to its incumbent supplier, Bupa, to continue to deliver Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Services within Hertfordshire. On 7th March 2023, the Authority published a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice to inform the market of its intention to award this contract (reference 2023/S 000-006628). This is a short-term contract which started on 1st April 2023 and will end on 31st March 2024 with the option to extend for a further year to 31st March 2025. It is the intention of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (HWE ICB) to implement an integrated contracting approach in conjunction with system partners. This short-term contract enables the strategy to be developed and adopted as part of the CHC contracting process, avoiding service disruption and maintaining continuity of care for our patients whilst this work is completed.

Total Quantity or Scope

The continuing care in-patient care home service is available for adults aged 18 and over who are registered with a Hertfordshire GP and have been determined as eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare and who have expressed a care home placement and whose needs can be best met within that environment. The service is accessible to anyone with a medical condition that can be safely and appropriately managed in a care home environment. Elements to be provided by the service are likely to include: a) Case management approach. b) The nursing process: formal review by named nurse and senior support staff. c) Promoting Health and wellbeing. d) Multidisciplinary working. e) Inter-agency working. f) Advocacy. g) Process of dealing with referrals and pre-admission arrangements. h) Admission arrangements. i) Physical environment (security and maintenance). j) Risk assessment and management. k) Safeguarding vulnerable adults procedure. l) Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. m) Relatives’ support. n) Infection control procedures. o) Acute Care Management. p) End of life care. q) Step up or step down arrangements1. r) Discharge arrangements. s) Aftercare - bereavement/follow ups. Bupa Care Homes operate a number of homes throughout the Hertfordshire area from which these services will be provided. The contract has been in place with Bupa since April 2013 with a cumulative contract value to end March 2023 of £43,303,376. The maximum value of the new contract is £1,920,000 per annum. Should the optional extension be used, the maximum contract value for the 2-year period is £3,840,000.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

Option to extend for a further year from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025.

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85100000 - Health services

Indicators

• Options are available.
• Award on basis of price.

Legal Justification

This is a short-term contract award. It is the intention of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (HWE ICB) to implement an integrated contracting approach in conjunction with system partners. A new short-term contract will enable the strategy to be developed and adopted as part of the CHC contracting progress. The short-term contract award will avoid service disruption and maintain continuity of care for our patients whilst this work is completed.

Other Information

Following publication of the VEAT, the contracting authority observed a 10-day standstill period in line with best practice before concluding the contract.