MSK/Diagnostic Uncertainty service · UK public procurement notice

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission an MSK/Diagnostic Uncertainty service. A summary of the purposes and objectives of the services are below.

MSK/Diagnostic Uncertainty service for Surrey Heath is for patients aged over 18.

The service is a multi-disciplinary community advice, assessment and treatment service to support GPs and community physiotherapists in diagnostic assessment and treatment planning for patients with challenging MSK conditions; i.e. patients where diagnostic uncertainly exists and/or the patient has been unresponsive to previous treatments.

The normal referral route into the service is via a patient's GP. Referrals are also received from Community Physiotherapy providers for diagnostic uncertainty. The initial face-to-face clinical assessment uses a biopsychosocial model, and draws on a multi-disciplinary team of experts. It includes access to biomechanical, pharmacological and psychological assessment.

The aim of the clinical assessment is to identify a diagnosis, where possible, support the referrer and patient in the management of ongoing symptoms where there continues to be diagnostic uncertainty, develop and implement an agreed treatment and/or management plan.

The majority of patients after the initial assessment will be:

• Referred back to the GP with a diagnosis and clear management plan or
• Referred to the community physiotherapy services (Choice of provider to be offered at point of referral) or
• Identified as suitable for the Community Pain Service or
• Referred on to services outside community services.

Treatments are limited to:

• Non-ultrasound guided injections / Ultrasound guided injections
• Advice and signposting to supported self-management and positive lifestyle options, including physical activity and weight management, smoking and diet
• Pharmacological management advice including managing medication and flare-ups.

Follow-up appointments are also provided under this pathway.

The Commissioner is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider Dr K Lothe and Partners LLP in accordance with the criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The total value of the contract for the initial one-year contract term is £396,893. The full lifetime contract value (one year + optional one year extension) is £796,167.36. The one-year contract period will commence on the 1st July 2024.

This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. Additional information: Evidence that Dr K Lothe and Partners LLP have satisfied the existing 23/24 contract to a sufficient standard according to the detail outlined in the 23/24 contract: they provided all of the required documentation, information and policies for the existing contract. They have: followed the contractual service specification, not deviated from Frimley ICB Safeguarding requirements, charged the correct local prices as per the contract, issued invoices correctly in accordance with the Frimley ICB process, complied with Quality reporting requirements, and followed Schedule 6A reporting requirements. Dr K Lothe and Partners LLP have complied with/not fallen foul of the 23/24 NHS Standard Contract (Shorter Form) Service Conditions, including Service Conditions in relation to the following: service standards, co-operation, information requirements, safeguarding, payment terms and quality requirements. They have also complied with/not fallen foul of the 23/24 Shorter Form General Conditions, including those relating to: liability & indemnity, assignment & sub-contracting, and Information Governance. The new contracting arrangements are based on a rollover of the previous MSK contracting arrangements/schedules which the provider has already satisfied/complied with to a high standard, and so the provider will highly likely to be able to satisfy the new contract to a sufficient standard.