Ophthalmology Service Transformation · UK public procurement notice

The NHS Long Term Plan clarifies the direction for health and care over the next ten years, including the importance of transforming outpatient services and Eyecare Planning Implementation Guidance 21-22 sets out expectations around recovery and transformation of eye care services.

A Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin programme of ophthalmology transformation will bring together recommendations from NHSEI Ophthalmology Elective Care Handbook, NHSEI Eyecare Restoration roadmap and Eyecare Planning Implementation Guidance including better use of technology, risk stratification, shared PTL, optimising the role of optometrists as first contact practitioners and implementing end-to-end integrated pathways. A combined approach will ensure alignment of ophthalmology transformation, redesign and improvement with recovery of extensive waiting times for services; whilst complementing the broader programme of Outpatients and Elective Care transformation.

The CCG's vision for this programme, due to launch February 2022, is to provide timely, safe, effective and sustainable integrated eye care services at the right time, in the right location by the right person with excellent patient experience through a thorough review and redesign of integrated end to end eye care pathways, processes and ways of working.

The objectives of the programme are to:

• Reduce Face to Face Ophthalmology outpatient appointments;
• Reduce overdue follow ups;
• Reduce appointment DNA's;
• Increase the use of one-stop clinics;
• Increase the use of Nurse led/AHP clinics;
• Increase the uptake of advice & guidance (and that result in prevented physical appointments);
• Introduce patient initiated follow up where clinically appropriate;
• Increase the uptake of remote and virtual monitoring;
• Support the recovery of backlog post COVID and in time to full recovery and sustainable improved performance;
• Improve access to support for people diagnosed with sight loss;
• Achieve optimum and consistent patient safety;
• Improve experience and outcomes of eye care and eye health for the people of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin;
• Improve experience for staff working in eye care services.

The CCG is issuing this PIN Notice in order to engage with the wider market to help inform and shape this review and redesign elements of this transformation programme, and this will inform any future procurement actions the Commissioner may be required to undertake.

The potential contract period and value are not currently available at this stage as this PIN is purely to assist with the re-design of Ophthalmology pathways and processes within the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Health Care System through a series of engagement workshops.

Interested Providers who wish to participate in the review and redesign of eye care engagement workshops should provide their details within the questionnaire on the Bravo eTendering System ref: pqq_501.