Lymphoedema Service for Slough, Maidenhead Windsor & Ascot and Bracknell

NHS Frimley ICB is considering their options for commissioning a lymphoedema service for all adults aged 18 or over who are registered with a GP in East Berkshire. Patients would be eligible for the service based on having primary or secondary lymphoedema and this is regardless of diagnosis (i.e., cancer and non-cancer patients; palliative and non-palliative). The aim is to provide a comprehensive service for adults with lymphoedema involving assessment, intervention, evaluation, advice and support. This will be in line with national and local best practice guidance, and local population requirements. The vision for people with lymphoedema is to receive high quality, effective services which are delivered closer to home and are easily accessed. The service will operate with short waiting times and high responsiveness to the needs of local communities. The service will be free at the point of access. The Lymphoedema Service will consist of: • Primary and secondary care referrals into the service. • Provision of flexible outreach clinic(s) offered to increase accessibility. • Specialist holistic assessment to include physical, psychological, spiritual and cultural needs looking at severity of oedema, skin condition, pain, vascular, nutritional and mobility. • Provision of a personalised care plan with patient-led goals provided within a coordinated package of care. • Appropriate suite of interventions are offered; including (but not limited to); skin care, exercise, simple lymphatic drainage (SLD), manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), Doppler assessment compression therapy, multilayer lymphoedema bandaging, Kinesio-tape. • Provision of compression garments for people with lymphoedema following agreed protocols. • Information on and signposting to any relevant community/social support services. • Follow-up appointments to assess and evaluate whether needs have been met. • Provide patients and carers with information to support rationale for treatment • Provide specialist advice and education to support patients to self-manage. • Promotes early intervention, limits disease progression and reduces the need for time-consuming intensive therapy. • Improved quality of life for patients with lymphoedema. • Reduce the risk of infection/cellulitis and preventable hospital admissions. • Restore maximal functionality. • Improve limb size and shape and provide long term control of limb volume. • Drive innovation through service improvement via o Utilisation of available national and local data/guidance, and, o The collection and analysis of regular and appropriate service user feedback. • Work with the ICB on appropriate KPIs and strive to meet (and exceed where possible) these agreed performance targets. • Ensuring appropriate data collection methods to submit quarterly reports to the ICB as per the information and quality schedules. • Form/maintain good positive links to other associated services/providers to allow the provision of multi-agency health and social care. • Palliative patients must be referred into a specialist palliative care service when needed. • Work alongside referrers to ensure timely and appropriate referrals; this may include training and support for referrers, and may include supporting referrers with patients who do not meet the referral criteria. • CQC registration • Have appropriate governance and policies The contract will potentially be for 2 years with an option to extend for 2 further years. The anticipated contract value based on current activity levels would be £774k over the full 4 year period. Additional funding for 'made to measure garments' will also be available for up to £60k per year. Commissioners wish to understand the level of interest in this service from the market and invite suitably qualified and experienced providers to complete the attached engagement questionnaire. Providers wishing to take part in the market engagement must express an interest within the e-procurement system where providers will be given access to a draft specification and questionnaire. Bidders who express an interest will be expected to complete the questionnaire. Completed questionnaires should be submitted no later than 5pm, 22nd November 2024 via the messaging portal within the e-procurement system. Interested providers will be able to view this notice via the 'Live Opportunities' list on the e-procurement system, Atamis, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.