Community Ear, Nose & Throat Services (ENT) to NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB)

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission SOPS Healthcare Ltd to provide a Community Ear, Nose & Throat Services (ENT).

Community Ear, Nose & Throat Services (ENT) cover patients in all areas of the Frimley ICB geography. The service medically manages and treats ENT conditions (the service does not require that surgical procedures be carried out) arising in the registered patient population of Frimley ICB. This service sees both adults and children. The following conditions are treated: Glue Ear, Recurrent otitis media, Vertigo, Tinnitus, Otitis externa, Recurrent tonsillitis, Adenoid hypertrophy, Epistaxis, Deviated nasal septum, Rhinitis, Nasal Polyps, Chronic sinusitis, Globus Pharyngeus, Dysphonia, Ear and nose skin lesions. The service model is Any Willing Provider. The services are outpatient and community-based. Referrals are GP referral only using E-referral (e-RS).

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission Community Ear, Nose & Throat Services (ENT) A summary of the purposes and objectives of the services are below.

Community Ear, Nose & Throat Services (ENT) cover patients in all areas of the Frimley ICB geography. The service medically manages and treats ENT conditions (the service does not require that surgical procedures be carried out) arising in the registered patient population of Frimley ICB. This service sees both adults and children. The following conditions are treated: Glue Ear, Recurrent otitis media, Vertigo, Tinnitus, Otitis externa, Recurrent tonsillitis, Adenoid hypertrophy, Epistaxis, Deviated nasal septum, Rhinitis, Nasal Polyps, Chronic sinusitis, Globus Pharyngeus, Dysphonia, Ear and nose skin lesions. The service model is Any Willing Provider. The services are outpatient and community based. Referrals are GP referral only using E-referral (e-RS).

The Commissioner is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider SOPS Healthcare Ltd 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 £310,874. The full lifetime contract value (one year + optional one year extension) is £623,613. The one-year contract period will commence on the 01st April 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 SOPS Healthcare 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 any Quality reporting templates agreed with the Commissioners, and followed Schedule 6A reporting requirements. SOPS 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. SOPS 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 contracting arrangements/schedules which the provider has already satisfied/complied with, and so the provider will highly likely be able to satisfy the new contract to a sufficient standard.