Termination of Pregnancy Service AQP for BOB and Frimley ICBs

BOB ICB and Frimley ICB ("the ICBs") are setting up a new Any Qualified Provider (AQP) list for Termination of Pregnancy services covering Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, West Berkshire and the entirety of Frimley (Berkshire East, North East Hants & Farnham, Surry Heath)

The aim of this service is to provide a professional and personalised service that enables service users to access termination of pregnancy services that are safe, accessible, timely and of high quality. The service should aim to provide a consistent, comprehensive, effective, legal, and safe termination of pregnancy in a supportive and non-judgemental environment which respects service user's wishes, reduces repeat terminations and unintended pregnancies, and promotes better sexual health among service users.

The aim of this service is to provide a professional and personalised service that enables service users to access termination of pregnancy services that are safe, accessible, timely and of high quality. The service should aim to provide a consistent, comprehensive, effective, legal, and safe termination of pregnancy in a supportive and non-judgemental environment which respects service user's wishes, reduces repeat terminations and unintended pregnancies, and promotes better sexual health among service users.

The objectives of the service are:

• To provide an all-inclusive termination of pregnancy service to clients which includes information/advice and provides medical terminations.
• To offer terminations as early as possible based on the service user's gestation and clinical circumstances.
• To assess all service users under the age of 16 face to face and provide support whereas a child they are recognised as vulnerable.
• To offer all service users aged 16-18 face to face assessment and support.
• To ensure that, following information and advice, if the decision is to use Pills by Post with collection as the Service Users choice of receipt, the appropriate support and the collection point should be within the Service User's locality.
• To make sure that steps are taken when sending treatment packages to the Service User's home by courier, post or by other means to ensure that the package(s) reaches the named service user and confidentiality is respected as far as is reasonably possible.
• All packages must be dispatched as soon as possible but within 24 hours and outcome followed up.
• To aim for 98% of terminations take place without complications to include, but not be limited to, cervical trauma, uterine perforation, severe bleeding requiring transfusion, and uterine rupture as stated in schedule 4.
• To provide 100% of service users with advice on the full range of contraceptives, including the offer of (and where necessary fit) Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC), and offer at least five condoms.
• Service user's receiving Pills by Post will also have the contraception conversation and can be offered 3 months of oral contraception and/or condoms (in line with their Standard Operating Procedure and relevant guidance; and/or be referred to their GP or SHS for ongoing contraceptive provision.
• To supply (and where necessary fit) 90% of service users with contraceptives after treatment.
• To support the reduction of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• To ensure opportunities are in place for accurate and effective information and screening of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Where appropriate sexual health screening offered in line with guidance to include Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea as stated in schedule 4.

The Termination of Pregnancy Service is expected to include:

• Primary care referrals and self-referral into the service.
• Provision of professionally trained staff.
• Provision of regular clinics within the geographical area.
• Specialist assessment and treatment.
• Appropriate interventions and onward referral where necessary.
• Information on and signposting to any relevant support services.
• Treatment to prevent hospital admissions.
• Innovation through service improvement.
• Work with the ICBs on appropriate KPIs.
• Ensure appropriate data collection methods to submit quarterly reports to the ICBs.
• Form/maintain good positive links to other associated services/providers to allow the provision of multi-agency health and social care.
• Work alongside referrers to ensure timely and appropriate referrals; this may include training and support.
• CQC registration.
• Appropriate governance and policies.
• Close working with Primary Care Networks.

The AQP is for an initial three years, with the option to extend for two further years at the sole discretion of the ICBs. Full details, including how to apply can be found on our e-procurement system, Atamis at the link given.

Responses must be submitted by 1pm 14th July. The ICBs reserve the right to accept additional applications during the lifetime of the contract. Additional information: The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).