Covid Medicine Delivery Unit to NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to seek expressions of interest in being considered as the most suitable provider for the delivery of Covid Medicines Delivery Unit NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (the Commissioner) is seeking to secure a Provider who has the capability and capacity to deliver Covid Medicines Delivery unit services. The service will assess all patients aged 18 and over, providing assessment and prescribing for Covid medications. Where they don't fit the criteria, they will be referred to the Somerset Foundation Trust Second Line intravenous medication service via Somerset Primary Link. Patients under the age of 18 will be triaged and assessed for clinical disposition but will be directed to contact their own specialist/consultant for the assessment and prescription of Covid medication. Patients accessing the service are identified by NHSE as high risk and are provided with a letter by NHSE or will have been identified as such by their specialist/consultant. NHS111, community pharmacy and general practice will have a referral pathway into the daytime CMDU assessment (no less than 6 days a week) for covid medication assessment and prescription. During the out of hours period only an assessment on immediate clinical need will occur using standard dispositions. Patients needing assessment by the daytime CMDU will be referred into the appropriate queue for contact when the CMDU service opens the next day. At present Somerset Integrated Care Board will not be offering third-line medication which would normally be offered after first and second line medication has been exhausted. This service will be for patients registered with a GP practice in Somerset. The contract start date will be 1 April 2025 with a contract duration of 2 year with an option to extend for up to further year (12 months) at the discretion of the commissioner. Estimated activity is assessment of circa. 60 patients per month based on current activity levels. Promotion of service may increase this volume. The contract value is circa. £115k per annum.