Contract for the Provision of Public Health services within General Practice

Concepts

• health services
• hertford
• hertfordshire county council public health
• public health services
• service choice
• sexual health services
• gp practices
• general practice
• nhs health checks
• five yearly nhs health checks

Location

HERTFORD

Description

This is an Award Notice for the Provision of Public Health Services within General Practice. This is a direct award because competition is absent for technical reasons. Contracts have been awarded to every GP practice within Hertfordshire. The contracts are due to start on 01/04/2024 for an initial period of 3 years until 31/03/2027, with an option to extend for a further 36 months.

Total Quantity or Scope

This is an Award Notice. Hertfordshire County Council have awarded a contract for the Provision of Public Health Services within General Practice. There is no competition for this service. Hertfordshire County Council Public Health has responsibility for commissioning the following services: The prescribing, fitting and removal of Long-Acting Reversable Contraception (LARC) devices form part of the Local Authorities' mandated responsibility for commissioning sexual health services. Hertfordshire ensures that LARCs are offered as part of an integrated contraceptive pathway, which includes consultation and after-care. The provision of Chlamydia screening and treatment contributes to the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP). Although the NCSP only offers screening for Chlamydia, in Hertfordshire we screen for both Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea (dual testing) and it is available for anyone aged 15 years and above. This allows services to provide free opportunistic testing, treatment and partner management and prevention to sexually active residents living in Hertfordshire The council also has a mandated responsibility to ensure that all eligible registered patients in Hertfordshire are invited to attend for five yearly NHS Health Checks at the practice in which they are registered. The provision of stop smoking support is not a mandated function. However, smoking remains one of the primary lifestyle behaviours contributing to premature mortality; Smoking cessation support is a cost-effective intervention. GP practices have access to their registered patient list and need to be able to effectively manage the clinical risk inherent in the delivery of these clinical interventions. Therefore contracts for the Public Health Services within General Practice will be awarded for an initial term of 3 years (with the option for annual extensions up to 3 further years) to every GP practice within Hertfordshire. The value stated above is across all GP practices for the maximum contract duration. Each GP Practice shall deliver the services they are accredited and registered to deliver to ensure equity of service choice for Hertfordshire residents.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

There is provision for an extension of 36 months. The value stated in II.1.7 is inclusive of this.

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85100000 - Health services

Indicators

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

Legal Justification

Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is relying on Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 in making this award without prior publication. Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) permits such an award where competition is absent for technical reasons. The National and Strategic direction for single provider (GP practices) in Hertfordshire is to ensure that the 102 Hertfordshire GP practices continue to be well placed not just to provide medical care, but also to promote the health and well-being of the practice population and to address health inequalities. Hertfordshire County Council Public Health has responsibility for commissioning the services outlined in II.2.4. The Council has therefore awarded a contract to All GP Practices within Hertfordshire. This represents a best value approach to ensure the ongoing service delivery.