NHS Patient Survey Programme (Lot 1)

CQC collects, analyses and uses a range of intelligence that can inform us about people's experiences of care. Part of that information comes from people who have recently used specific NHS services and are asked about their experiences as part of a NHS Patient Survey Programme delivered by CQC (see definitions below regarding national survey). The programme is designed to capture the views of representative samples of patients in a systematic way from all eligible NHS trusts in England. Each survey contains a set of questions that is designed and tested to provide insight into people's experiences and to highlight areas where individual providers could improve how they provide services.

The programme currently includes annual surveys of adult inpatients and community mental health services. CQC also undertakes 3 acute surveys on a biennial schedule: maternity services, emergency department services and children's and young people's inpatient and day case services. Information on all of these surveys is available on the 2 websites stated below.

Typically, the surveys are sent to a sample of between 850-1 250 patients, who meet specific eligibility criteria, per provider. The sample is drawn from people who have experienced care in a specified month, or months and on average between 25 % and 50 % of eligible patients respond. The results of these surveys, including local and national reports, are published on CQC's own website and NHS Surveys along with the guidance and tools used to deliver the survey.

The strategic direction for the NHS Patient Survey Programme for the period covered by this procurement process sets out CQC's proposals to develop the programme in 3 main ways:

(i) create a digital method of survey delivery utilising mobile phones and potentially email addresses. The digital solution will be part of a mixed methods approach to surveys which will reduce the costs of running the programme for trusts and allow us to, potentially, increase frequency and sample sizes with minimal cost impact;

(ii) support CQC's next phase approach (see, for example, the consultation response for the first wave on our website) for regulating providers where CQC has already inspected and rated every provider by potentially allowing CQC to increase the frequency of surveys and sample sizes;

(iii) review opportunities for collecting people's views on the quality of new care models as they emerge or on the quality of care in local areas and health systems.

CQC is seeking to appoint a contractor to deliver a co-ordination centre service and to act as an expert partner in the development and delivery of CQC's NHS Patient Survey Programme. The co-ordination centre works, on contract, directly with CQC and other commissioners to deliver and continuously improve the national surveys and survey products, by:

(i) working with commissioners to deliver surveys and survey products including, for example, undertaking development work and pilots, providing expertise on methods and processes, analysing data and producing outputs; and

(ii) support and work with, approved contractors to deliver surveys locally, for example through the development of guidance, webinars and central checks on samples.

CQC expects the anticipated programme cost envelope will be 1 067 000 GBP per annum. This is split between both the co-ordination centre for existing methods (Lot 1) and the co-ordination centre for mixed methods (Lot 2), with costs allocated to Lot 1 being higher in year 1 than subsequent years as CQC implements its strategy for the programme. However, as this contract will be utilised on a call-off basis, CQC does not guarantee any work either to providers of services or from other commissioners and requirements may be called-off as and when required by commissioners. Please also note that CQC may procure additional services through the contract to accommodate programme enhancements (survey volume, frequency or coverage).