Enhanced Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service

The purpose of this Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice is to inform the market of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Boards (HWE ICB) intention to award a short-term contract to its incumbent provider, Communitas Clinics Ltd, to continue providing an Enhanced Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service across South and West Hertfordshire.

Communitas Clinics Ltd were awarded a 3-year contract in October 2018 (with the option to extend for 2-years) to provide the service following an open competitive process.

The extension period comes to an end on 3rd February 2024. The intended new contract will start on 4th February 2024 and will end on 31st March 2025. This new short-term contract will enable time for full engagement and consultation on the services across the three 'places' within Hertfordshire and West Essex to fully review existing services with the aim of moving towards a more equitable ENT offer across the ICB.

The purpose of this Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice is to inform the market of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Boards (HWE ICB) intention to award a short-term contract to its incumbent provider, Communitas Clinics Ltd, to continue providing an Enhanced Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service across South and West Hertfordshire.

Communitas Clinics Ltd were awarded a 3-year contract in October 2018 and went live on 4th February 2019 (with the option to extend for 2-years) to provide the service following an open competitive process.

The extension period comes to an end on 3rd February 2024. The intended new contract will start on 4th February 2024 and will end on 31st March 2025. This new short-term contract will enable time for full engagement and consultation on the services across the three 'places' within Hertfordshire and West Essex to fully review existing services with the aim of moving towards a more equitable ENT offer across the ICB.

The service delivers an Enhanced Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service for patients with non-emergency ENT conditions across all four localities in South and West Herts place. This specialist community model is provided and led from a muti-disciplinary hub, enabling specialist assessment of patients in the community and quicker access to multi-disciplinary team assessment, diagnostics and treatments with a choice of an elective care provider, if required. It focusses on clearly defined clinical pathways, GP support, advice and guidance and education.

The value of the contract to date is estimated at £6,608,951 (excluding VAT). This is an estimate as the 2023/4 full year effect is not yet known.

The value of the intended new contract is £1,593,206 (excluding VAT). Additional information: In line with best practice, the Authority will apply a voluntary 10-day standstill period before conclusion of the contract. The 10-day standstill period will start the day after the publication date of this notice.

Therefore, the date of conclusion of contract within this notice is the date on which the approach was approved through internal governance.