Adult Hearing Services for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board

NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire are seeking tenders for the provision of Adult Hearing Services.

Lot 1 relates to In-Clinic Adult Hearing Services.

The aim of the service is to provide a comprehensive, personalised service for adults over 50 years of age with hearing loss in line with national guidance and local requirements.

The vision for people with age related 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.

The Adult Hearing Service will consist of:

• A hearing and communication needs assessment.
• A full hearing assessment including otoscopy, tympanometry and pure tone audiometry. The offer of management options, which may include hearing aids and associated after care.
• A discussion about the findings and potential management options.
• A shared-decision making conversation to develop an Individual Management Plan (IMP).
• Provision of, fitting, verification and validation of hearing aids, as appropriate and in line with national guidance.
• Provision of appropriate hearing rehabilitation e.g. patient education.
• Follow-up appointment to assess progress against goals in the IMP.
• Provision of aftercare service, including supply of batteries, tubes, domes, wax filters and replacement ear moulds. This should also include advice and support.
• Provision of wax removal by microsuction at any point in the pathway where its presence prevents accurate assessment, management or aftercare. This can be at a separate appointment where required, but the service should be available with the same provider of the care pathway.
• Clear advice on self-care to prevent the build-up of wax is to be provided routinely.

The Contract will be for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for up to a further 24 month period. The ICB intends to award Contracts to up to 5 providers per lot across the geographic area of Herefordshire and Worcestershire to cater for the needs of the entire geographic area. NHS Standard Terms and Conditions apply.

NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire are seeking tenders for the provision of Adult Hearing Services.

Lot 2 relates to Domiciliary Adult Hearing Services.

The aim of the service is to provide a comprehensive, personalised service for adults over 50 years of age with hearing loss in line with national guidance and local requirements.

The vision for people with age related 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.

Whilst both lots have the same deliverables, Domiciliary Adult Hearing Services, shall be carried out where required in a patients own home.

The Adult Hearing Service will consist of:

• A hearing and communication needs assessment.
• A full hearing assessment including otoscopy, tympanometry and pure tone audiometry. The offer of management options, which may include hearing aids and associated after care.
• A discussion about the findings and potential management options.
• A shared-decision making conversation to develop an Individual Management Plan (IMP).
• Provision of, fitting, verification and validation of hearing aids, as appropriate and in line with national guidance.
• Provision of appropriate hearing rehabilitation e.g. patient education.
• Follow-up appointment to assess progress against goals in the IMP.
• Provision of aftercare service, including supply of batteries, tubes, domes, wax filters and replacement ear moulds. This should also include advice and support.
• Provision of wax removal by microsuction at any point in the pathway where its presence prevents accurate assessment, management or aftercare. This can be at a separate appointment where required, but the service should be available with the same provider of the care pathway.
• Clear advice on self-care to prevent the build-up of wax is to be provided routinely.

The Contract will be for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for up to a further 24 month period. The ICB intends to award Contracts to up to 5 providers per lot across the geographic area of Herefordshire and Worcestershire to cater for the needs of the entire geographic area. NHS Standard Terms and Conditions apply.