Environmental Control Equipment for Patients with Complex Disability (All Ages)

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to inform the market of NHS England South East's, (the Commissioner's), intention to recommission Environmental Control Equipment for Patients with Complex Disability (All Ages). The Commissioner would like to understand the level of provider interest in delivering these services. The service will deliver environmental control and other related specialist equipment as a specialised service to a population sufficient to generate the critical mass of referrals to support the service and to allow retention of specialist skills. The service aims: • To provide relevant Environmental Control (EC) equipment to adults and children with complex physical disabilities, due to variety of medical conditions, in order to improve their independence, quality of life, safety and participation. • To participate with the provision of other EAT such as communication aids, powered wheelchair controls and other equipment of daily living, where this is appropriate. • To collaborate with other clinical services and social agencies to optimise patient's wellbeing. • To ensure that patients and carers are well informed on the use of the equipment that has been loaned to them. • To adapt equipment provision to meet the changing needs of the patient. • To provide the service in an independent, unbiased, cost effective and accountable way. • To ensure all staff within the service are trained to an adequate and relevant level of competency, including awareness of technological developments • To promote the development and application of EC and other relevant EAT products. • To promote equitable provision of service across the population and diagnostic groups, developing and maintaining a care pathway for referral and provision in conjunction with local community services • To support primary and secondary care staff by offering them specialist professional advice and training. • To collaborate with national initiatives to develop and improve service provision. The objectives of the service are to: • Undertake assessment of individual patient's EC needs by professionals with relevant competencies, working within or alongside the service. This should include recommendations on equipment solutions and referral to other agencies as appropriate. • Maintain access to a loan bank of appropriate EC equipment for assessment, trial and long term loan to patients. • Provide as appropriate, a broad range of equipment as required to meet an individual patient's independence goals. • Support patient's use of EC equipment by regularly reviewing them and their equipment requirements so as to meet changing needs and enable them to maintain a reasonable degree of independence. • Ensure all equipment provided is maintained in a satisfactory state and checked in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations. • Health and social care professionals working in areas where service uptake is low are targeted and encouraged to refer those who could benefit from equitable equipment provision. The service is expected to cover Kent and Medway, South East London and Sussex The total contract value is currently expected to be £1,361,130 (based on 2023/24 values). All figures are subject to change. The contract will be for an initial 30-month period, with the option to extend for a further 24 months (2 x 12 month extensions). A 6-month notice period will be in place. Providers who are interested in delivering these services are asked to express their interest and provide evidence of their capability and capacity in relation to the service requirements through a Market Engagement Questionnaire by no later than 12 Noon on 17th April 2024. This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.