Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group - GP 999 Car

The following is a PIN notice only and is being placed to alert providers to a potential future procurement exercise for a GP 999 Car service. Any values and timescales stated are for guidance purposes only and should not be taken as a guarantee. Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group ("the CCG") is considering their options for the continued commissioning of their GP 999 car provision. This will be for patients who are registered with a Somerset GP. The GP 999 car seeks to reduce the amount of emergency admissions by offering home visits to patients, and providing telephone advice to paramedics on scene. A dispatcher sends cases that meet the service criteria to the GP 999 Car clinician. The GP 999 car clinicians also has access to the call which enables them to review calls and triage the calls to ensure the most appropriate care is provided to address the needs of the patient. The avoidance can be facilitated by on scene treatment of the patient, prescription of medications or referral to another more appropriate service. In the majority of cases, the GP 999 Car will visit the patient at home. In some cases the GP in the car provides telephone advice to the ambulance crew on scene. The service enables to address the urgent care needs to patients and ensures that patients are given access to the right care for their needs. This could release ambulance crews to attend patients more promptly and reduce pressure on Emergency Departments. The GP 999 Vehicle Response Car will aim to support the wider Health Community by reducing conveyances to the local ED. More specifically to: • Paramedics, Specialist Paramedics (SPs) and other clinicians • To reduce ED admissions and promote See and Treat • For those patients requiring admission, facilitate direct admissions where possible • To deliver Somerset CCGs vision of maximising care closer to home This is a faced paced service that enables GPs to engage in reactive work. It requires a more advanced skillset as GP's are required to make 'on the ground' decisions to ensure that patient outcomes are as positive as they can be within a given situation. Activity levels seen within the contract for 19/20 were circa 2348 with cases ranging from 522 to 670 per quarter. The contract is estimated at £675k per annum, and the CCG is considering a term of three years with an option to extend for up to a further 2 years and would commence in April 2022. If you would be interested in providing the service, please email Angela Mortley at scwcsu.whprocurement@nhs.net before 5pm on 16/02/2021 indicating where your organisation is currently situated and from where you would intend to provide the service. Further details will be sent accordingly.