Adult Hospice Inpatient, Outpatient and Community Services in East Berkshire (Slough, Maidenhead, Windsor, Ascot and Bracknell)

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission provision to provide adult hospice inpatient, outpatient and community services for all patients requiring hospice intervention for palliative and end of life care who are registered with a GP practice in the East Berkshire area. The provider will work in close partnership with the ICB and stakeholders in delivery of the model of provision. The model will aim to achieve best value and excellent patient outcomes by developing planned pathways and processes towards the shift of activity from hospital settings to hospice, care homes and home settings. There will be an emphasis on achieving the preferred place of care for patients and their carers/families in an efficient and timely manner. Working as part of the Frimley Integrated Care System, the inpatient outpatient and community services will support individuals to remain in their preferred place of care and reduce avoidable ambulance conveyancing and hospital admissions with a rapid response service and 24/7 advice line. It will also engender confidence amongst professionals in supporting the delivery of exceptional end of life care. The Services are for adults over the age of 18 years or transitioning into adult services at the time of first referral. The aim is to provide a holistic seamless 24/7 service to patients, through multi-disciplinary co-ordinated, working across the health and social care systems. Training, information and advice and support will also be offered to related health and social care teams. The total expected value of the contract for the initial two-year contract term is £10,724,000. The optional two-year extension expected value of the contract is £11,711,000. Therefore, the full expected lifetime contract value (two years + optional two-year extension) is £22,435,000. The two-year contract period commenced on the 1st April 2025. The Commissioner is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider Thames Hospice in accordance with the criteria outlined in Regulation 6(3) and 7 Direct Award process A of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners, with decisions on the award being made by the Frimley ICB Provider Selection and Contracting Group (PSCG).