Pennine Lancashire CCGs Night Sitting Service Framework

NHS Blackburn with Darwen CCG and NHS East Lancashire CCG wish to procure a framework of providers of night sitting services for end of life patients within the localities of the two CCGs. In September 2021, NICE updated its Quality Standard 13, End of life care for adults. Within this quality standard it advises the following should be in place:

• generalist and specialist services that can meet the physical and specific psychological needs of people approaching the end of life, including access to medicines and equipment, in a safe, effective, and appropriate way at any time of day or night.
• Safe, effective, and appropriate symptom and side-effect management at any time of day or night may require coordinated input from a few different professionals and services. As a minimum, essential 24/7 care services should include:
• generalist medical services (including GPs)
• nursing services (defined as visiting, rapid response services and provision of one-to-one care at home, including overnight)
• personal care services
• access to pharmacy services
• access to equipment and adaptations
• specialist palliative care advice for generalists on symptom and side-effect management.

The North West Model for Life Limiting Conditions covers the breadth of end of life care from stable progressive life-limiting condition; incurable, symptoms treatable all the way through to bereavement care. The requirement of this service provision is to focus on the later stage of element 2 & all stage 3, Advancing Disease & Increasing decline (months and weeks) and last days of life (days and hours).

The Commissioners are planning to support those patients whose preferred place of death is home by procuring a new model for the delivery of night sits. This will be via a provider framework to enable patients to remain in their usual place of residence whilst receiving 1:1 support. This service will support carers and family members to take breaks from caring for their loved one, whilst knowing they are being cared for.

The Framework is for a period of two years (24 months) with an option to extend for 24 months at which time it will be re-opened for new entrants. The estimated financial envelope is £721,590 per annum.