Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) Services in Thames Valley ICB - Market Engagement

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to inform the market of Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB), (the Commissioner's), intention to commission a Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) service in line with the national service specification for the Thames Valley geographical area. The Commissioner would like to understand the level of provider interest in delivering this highly specialised maternity service and to inform future commissioning and procurement activity. Background Placenta Accreta Spectrum is a rare but serious condition associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. Women affected by PAS require highly specialised, planned multidisciplinary care delivered in appropriately equipped centres with access to specialist obstetrics, anaesthesia, surgery, diagnostics, interventional radiology, critical care and blood transfusion services. The national PAS service specification was established to ensure that women at high risk of PAS receive care within designated specialist centres operating within regional networks, with consistent standards of clinical governance, data collection, audit and quality assurance. Service model overview The PAS service will be delivered through designated specialist PAS centres, operating as part of a regional network arrangement across the South East. The network will work collaboratively with local maternity services to ensure early identification, accurate diagnosis, coordinated care planning and safe delivery for women at increased risk of PAS. The service is divided into three geographical areas within the South East, each contributing to a regional model of specialised PAS care. The provider commissioned for the Thames Valley geographical area will be expected to work closely and collaboratively with providers delivering the service in the other South East geographical areas to support shared learning, consistent standards and equitable access to care. While the primary focus is the Thames Valley population, the service may accept referrals from outside the geographical area where clinically appropriate. As the service becomes established, geographical boundaries and referral arrangements may be reviewed in partnership with relevant providers. Aims and objectives The aims of the PAS service are to: • Accurately diagnose PAS and determine the clinical risk posed • Maximise safety for women by providing high quality specialist multidisciplinary care for the delivery of women at high risk of PAS • Prevent avoidable maternal deaths in a population at very high risk of mortality • Minimise intensive therapy unit admission and reduce length of stay where admission is required • Reduce blood product administration • Reduce the risk of severe maternal morbidity, including cardiac arrest, fistula formation and lower urinary tract trauma • Reduce unnecessary surgical procedures, including vertical abdominal incision and hysterectomy • Reduce iatrogenic injury arising from false positive diagnoses • Improve outcomes for babies by minimising iatrogenic premature delivery • Ensure quality is nationally monitored and subject to continuous improvement through a national dashboard • Participate in national data collection to improve understanding of Placenta Accreta Spectrum Contract and procurement details The contract will be awarded using the latest version of the NHS Standard Contract. The proposed contract duration is five years (60 months), with the option to extend for up to a further two years, offered as two twelve month extensions at the discretion of the Commissioner. The approximate expected annual allocation of funding for the Thames Valley geographical area is estimated at £283,500 per year, with a total anticipated five year value of £1,417,500. The Commissioner considers that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 do not apply. However, prospective providers must undertake their own independent assessment of the applicability of TUPE. This exercise is being carried out by NHS England South East, with procurement support from NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner. SCW is currently subject to restructuring, and the management of this procurement may therefore move to a successor at some point during the procurement process. Participants will be informed of any such change, and any administrative changes because of it.