GP Led Out of Hours Services for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board

This Intention to Award Notice is issued in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 under the competitive process. The Procurement relates to the Invitation to Tender for the procurement of GP Led Out of Hours Services. The purpose of this procurement is to secure a Service Provider to deliver GP Led Out of Hours Service across the geographical area covered by NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board.

There are currently 50 GP practices within STW, with 37 in Shropshire and 13 in Telford and Wrekin, covering a total population of 531,951. As of June2024, the population covered in each locality was as follows:

• Shrewsbury locality (11 practices) -approx. 107,348
• South locality (14 practices) - approx.103,851
• North locality (12 practices) - approx.114,907
• Telford and Wrekin (13 practices) -approx. 205,845

The patient population also covers any temporary residents covered by a Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin ICB responsible practice, and any person eligible for NHS treatment visiting the ICB area for less than 24 hours and requiring urgent medical care.

This service is made up of four elements, as outlined below:

1. Out of Hours GP Cover:

The Provider shall operate GP Out of Hours services during periods outside of local GP surgeries' core hours across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

2. GP Cover for Protected Learning Time (PLT):

STW ICB funds GP cover to allow the 50 GP practices across its four localities to close to enable staff development at dates agreed with commissioners annually for PLT sessions. Providing cover for protected learning time in this way enables GP practice staff to undertake learning activities that benefit patients, practices and the ICB.

3. Outbreak Response:

A national mandate dated July 2017advised that all ICBs were required to commission an antiviral treatment service during the out of season outbreak period that supports the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) function to discharge their duties. Local Authority Health Protection Teams (LAHPT) support care home outbreaks locally and may lead communications with the Provider. Following Gateway reference 07402 dated 20th November2017, these instructions have now been extended to cover the full 52-week period. In the event of emergency outbreaks of highly infectious diseases, the Provider will also be called upon to respond accordingly through the provision of both antimicrobial and antiviral treatments, as appropriate.

4. Care Coordination Centre Single Point of Access

The Care Co-Ordination Centre Single Point of Access (CCCSPA) will deliver a model of unplanned referral management that streamlines and improves patient care and optimises the use of available local resources across acute and community services, ensuring that the patient is seen by the right service in the right place at the right time to meet their needs.

The Provider shall support Health Care Professionals in navigating to the most appropriate service to meet their unplanned care needs.

The contract will be for a period of three years with the option to extend for up to a further24-month period. NHS Standard Contract Terms and Conditions will apply. The anticipated Contract go-live date is 01st July 2025. The approximate lifetime value including the available extension is £32,520,000.00

The Authority reserves the right to modify this Contract at any time during the Contract period in accordance with local, national and regional requirements affecting this service, including but not limited to; changes in guidelines, clinical governance, the updating of the clinical pathway; changes required due to the impact of the Hospital Transformation Programme (HTP) and patient volume increases which may increase the overall cost. Any required modification will be made in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.