Termination of Pregnancy Services for NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board

NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (DDICB) commissioned a termination of pregnancy (TOP) service to meet the needs of the local population covered within the DDICB region, to provide a professional and personalised service that enables service users to access services which are safe, accessible, timely and of high quality.

The Termination of Pregnancy Services across the Derby and Derbyshire area was procured under a Direct Award Process B selection process, carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.

DDICB are awarding, following Direct Award Process B, contracts to three providers; British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service (NUPAS) and MSI Reproductive Choices. The contracts have an Initial term of 2-years and 9 months, with the Commissioner having the option to extend for a further 2-years. Therefore, the maximum duration of the contract, including any extensions will be for a 4-years and 9-month term. The initial contract period commenced on the 1st July 2026. The contracts are activity-based contracts with unit prices, and do not guarantee any volume of activity or payment to a provider.

The Termination of Pregnancy Service will:

• Offer high-quality, impartial support and advice to all patients who request an abortion, regardless of age, ethnicity, language, disability, religious or personal circumstances.

• Provide patients with appropriate information on post-abortion counselling services, both prior to, and after having a termination.

• Provide patients with access to an abortion as early as possible and adhere to nationally recognised wait/treatment times.

• Patients should expect services to be provided as close to home as they would be when accessing other pregnancy services such as for miscarriage or obstetric care. The principle should be that core abortion services (early medical abortion and surgical abortion up to 14 weeks' gestation) are managed across the same population footprint that is served by the nearest NHS Trust offering gynaecology care, with more complex care (e.g. later gestations or co-morbidities) being delivered by regional or, in the most complex cases, national centres.

• Offer a range of contraception including long-acting reversible contraception and, if the patient chooses, provide it on the same day as the termination. The objective is to minimise the number of repeat terminations.

• Improve the sexual health of women by providing screening and treatment as appropriate.

• Provide information and signpost women to local Sexual Health Services.

• Ensure that risk of infection and other complications to patients is minimised.

• Ensure clear and responsive pathways with acute hospital gynaecology services for complex patients who have medical complications or who are considered high risk.

• Ensure that guidelines on supporting and managing young people under the age of 18 are adhered to.

• Ensure that services are delivered in line with current legislation (i.e. The Abortion Act 1967).