Provision of Ophthalmology Services

This is a Contract Award Notice to communicate a contract award made by the Contracting Authority; Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, (hereinafter referred to as “the Authority”) in compliance with their local standing financial instructions (SFIs). On 29th December 2023, the Authority published a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice (VEAT) (Reference: 2023/S 000-038031) to inform the market of its intention to award the contract. The Authority applied a voluntary 10-day standstill period prior to conclusion of the contract. The contract award is made to Community Health and Eyecare Ltd. for the provision of Ophthalmology services across Hertfordshire and West Essex. The new contract is intended to start on 1st April 2024 and will be for a period of 1-year, ending on 31st March 2025. This contract was originally awarded via a competitive procurement process for a period of 3-years with the option to extend for a further 2-years, and is now due to expire on 31st March 2024. The total cumulative value of this contract to end March 24 will be £13,552,663 (excl. VAT). The value of the new contract will be £2,940,568 (excluding VAT). This additional 12 months will be used to allow the Herts and West Essex Integrated Care Board to redesign the Ophthalmology Service model to understand how services can best meet the needs of patients into the future. Within that time, a decision will also be made on the most appropriate route to market. Currently, the community ophthalmology service in South and West Hertfordshire (S&W Herts) is commissioned to provide a community consultant led service to diagnose and treat a range of Ophthalmology conditions, and manage relevant follow-up activity within the service, before final discharge back to the care of the patient’s own GP, or onward referral to secondary care where necessary. The service is available to patients aged 16 years and above registered with a S&W Herts general practice or living in South and West Hertfordshire. The service manages the following conditions: • Suspected and actual ocular hypertension and glaucoma • Dry eyes, Blepharitis • In growing eyelashes • Lid lesions excluding Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Cancers • Posterior vitreous detachment, floaters and flashers • Dry Age-Related macular degeneration (AMD) pigmented retinal abnormalities. • Pre-assessment of cataracts • Post cataract assessment • Dry macular degeneration • Wet AMD - Injection clinic - for first and follow up injections to be carried out in the community service, for new patients only. The service will also deliver minor surgical procedures that are suitable to be delivered in a community setting, with prior approval in the case of low priority treatment procedures, including: • Insertion of punctual plugs, punctual enlargement. • Snip procedure • Lacrimal syringing • Chalazion* (Policy currently being developed) • Removal of any other lumps and bumps – warts, cysts, skin tags* (Covered in Cosmetic surgery policy) • Eye lash removal (ingrowing) • Entropion repair • Ectropion repair • Referral for Cataract surgery*