Provision of continued General Medical Services (GMS) for Bluebell Surgery patients

Concepts

• health services
• colchester
• medical practice
• bluebell surgery patients
• continued general medical services
• primary medical services
• bluebell surgery
• general medical services
• patients
• bluebell surgerys registered patient list

Location

Highwoods area of Colchester

Description

Pursuant to The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, Regulation 14, Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) will be awarding an Urgent Caretaker arrangement for the delivery of continued General Medical Services (GMS) for Bluebell Surgery patients.

Total Quantity or Scope

Bluebell Surgery (F81746) is a single handed general medical practice in the Highwoods area of Colchester. The sole partner served the required 3 months' notice on the GMS contract on 16 January 2024. Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) has delegated responsibility to ensure continuity of primary medical services for Bluebell Surgery's registered patient list. There is a significant risk that there will be no provision of primary medical services, jeopardising the health and well-being of patients (to a potentially fatal degree). Therefore this contract needs to be placed urgently. The Authority therefore has an urgent need for the provision of continued general medical services forming part of this contract and cannot be left without a provider. The contract duration will be for an initial 1 year, starting on 1.5.2024, with the option to extend by a further year. The maximum contract duration will be 2 years. The value of the contract being offered for the scope of services for the 1-year contract period is £423,099. The aggregate value of the contract (including extension provision of 1 year) is £846,198. Given the nature of business modelling involved and the associated resource implications for the potential provider it is necessary for the contingency contract to be for a maximum 24 months, in order for this to be a financially viable proposition. Otherwise the costs of a short-term contract would be prohibitive and would potentially negatively impact on health care.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

Initial contract length is 1 year (from 1st May 2024 to 30th April 2025) with the option to extend for a further 1 year (to 30th April 2026) pending agreement by both parties.

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85100000 - Health services
• 85120000 - Medical practice and related services

Indicators

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

Legal Justification

Bluebell Surgery (F81746) is a single handed general medical practice in the Highwoods area of Colchester. The sole partner served the required 3 months' notice on the GMS contract on 16 January 2024. Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) has delegated responsibility to ensure continuity of primary medical services for Bluebell Surgery's registered patient list. There is a significant risk that there will be no provision of primary medical services, jeopardising the health and well-being of patients (to a potentially fatal degree). Therefore this contract needs to be placed urgently. The Authority therefore has an urgent need for the provision of continued general medical services forming part of this contract and cannot be left without a provider. Given the nature of business modelling involved and the associated resource implications for the potential provider it is necessary for the contingency contract to be for a maximum 24 months, in order for this to be a financially viable proposition. Otherwise the costs of a short-term contract would be prohibitive and would potentially negatively impact on health care.

Other Information

This contract has been awarded under the urgent circumstances provision of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. Bluebell Surgery (F81746) is a single handed general medical practice in the Highwoods area of Colchester. The sole partner served the required 3 months' notice on the GMS contract on 16 January 2024. Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) has delegated responsibility to ensure continuity of primary medical services for Bluebell Surgery's registered patient list. There is a significant risk that there will be no provision of primary medical services, jeopardising the health and well-being of patients (to a potentially fatal degree). Therefore this contract needs to be placed urgently. The Authority therefore has an urgent need for the provision of continued general medical services forming part of this contract and cannot be left without a provider. Given the nature of business modelling involved and the associated resource implications for the potential provider it is necessary for the contingency contract to be for a maximum 24 months, in order for this to be a financially viable proposition. Otherwise the costs of a short-term contract would be prohibitive and would potentially negatively impact on health care. The authorising committee for this contract award is Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board Executive Committee. Conflicts of Interest have been carefully managed in line with the Authority's Conflict of Interest Policy and Governance Handbook.