Community Urgent Eye Services to Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board

Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ("BSW") Integrated Care Board ("the ICB") seeks to secure a provider who has the capacity and capability to deliver an Optometry Triage Referral service for patients registered with a GP within BSW and in line with specified requirements. It is expected that the provider will work collaboratively and ensure a harmonious and efficient relationship to provide a safe and co-ordinated eyecare pathway.

The ICB wants to work the provider who are committed to innovation and creativity in delivering good health outcomes.

The Optometry Triage Referral service is intended to receive routine referrals from the BSW ICB Referral Service; triage them, and respond back to the Referral Service, such that those referrals can then be processed accordingly at the correct priority, to the appropriate provider, and with all the necessary relevant information. At times it is required to liaise with the Referral Service, and/or primary care (the referrer), and/or secondary care, and/or the BSW ICB Clinical Policies (Exceptional Funding and Prior Approvals) team.

The objective of the service is to ensure that patient's are referred safely and appropriately first time to the right ophthalmology service in accordance with their needs.

The contract term will be for 3 years with an optional extension of any period up to 2 years.

The maximum annual budget is £85,000 giving a maximum contract value of £255,000 for the initial 3 year period and £425,000 if the full extension period of 2 Year is adopted.

The new service will commence on the 1st October 2024.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ("BSW") Integrated Care Board ("the ICB") seeks to secure a provider who has the capacity and capability to deliver an Community Urgent Eyecare Triage service for patients registered with a GP within BSW and in line with specified requirements. It is expected that the provider will work collaboratively with the Community Urgent Eyecare Service Clinical Management to ensure a harmonious and efficient relationship to provide a safe and co-ordinated eyecare pathway.

The ICB seeks to work with a provider who are committed to innovation and creativity in delivering good health outcomes.

The Triage Service will ensure people who have eye-related signs and/or symptoms that are perceived by those presenting to need prompt assistance with their concern.

Via a single point of access the Triage service will provide remote/telephone triage directing patients with signs and symptoms of recent onset urgent ocular presentations to a telemedicine consultation or arrange for a face to face assessment and Clinical Management.

The Triage Service objectives are to:

• Employ an agreed algorithm to aid triage decision making
• Empower patient self-care
• Direct patents who do not have urgent eyecare needs to other services
• Direct patients to the most suitable further care setting/service if so required, with the appropriate level of urgency.
• Improve and facilitate local access to timely care for patients with urgent eye-related presentations, reducing their need to travel to hospital for urgent eyecare.
• Facilitate urgent and emergency eye referrals, where necessary, following local referral protocols, when the Clinical Management Service performer cannot manage the patient episode to completion.

The contract term will be for 3 years with an optional extension of any period up to 2 years.

The maximum annual budget is £195,000 giving a contract value of £585,000 for the initial 3 year period and £975,000 if the full extension period of 2 Year is adopted.

The new service will commence on the 1st October 2024.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ("BSW") Integrated Care Board ("the ICB") seeks to secure a provider who has the capacity and capability to deliver a Community Urgent Eyecare Clinical Management service for patients registered with a GP within BSW and in line with specified requirements. It is expected that the services will work collaboratively Community Urgent Eyecare Triage service to ensure a harmonious and efficient relationship to provide a safe and co-ordinated eyecare pathway.

The ICB seeks to work with a provider who are committed to innovation and creativity in delivering good health outcomes.

The Clinical Management Service is for those who have been referred via the Triage service. Patients will be assessed, agree a management plan which may include self-care, therapeutic recommendations, referrals and signposting.

The Clinical Management Service objectives are to:

• Improve local access to timely care for patients with urgent eye-related presentations, reducing their need to travel to hospital for urgent eyecare.
• Provide assessment, treatment and advice by telephone and/or video.
• Empower patient self-care.
• Direct patents who do not have urgent eyecare needs to other services.
• Direct patients to the most suitable further care setting/service if so required, with the appropriate level of urgency.
• Provide F2F consultations when urgent eye care symptoms need physical assessment, and it is likely that a service performer can manage the patient episode to completion.

Facilitate urgent and emergency eye referrals, where necessary, following local referral protocols when the Clinical Management Service performer cannot manage the patient episode to completion.

The contract term for both lots will be for 3 years with an optional extension of any period up to 2 years.

The maximum annual contract value is £176,000 giving a contract value of £528,000 for the initial 3 year period and £880,000 if the full extension period of 2

The new service will commence on the 1st October 2024.

This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.