Following the announcement on Monday 3 February 2025, regarding NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin’s (NHS STW’s) intention to award the GP Out of Hours Service contract to Medvivo, we’re conscious that various misconceptions are being shared which has understandably been inflicting concern for native residents.
The next doc offers necessary info and goals to appropriate misconceptions by extracting sections from the GP Out of Hours service specification, which has been within the public area since October 2024. As a commissioning organisation, NHS STW produces service specs to obviously outline expectations and the requirements of care we require from our suppliers.
We wish this doc to make clear necessary factors across the GP Out of Hours procurement course of and supply reassurance to those that could also be involved by the misinformation being shared. Nevertheless, it’s also necessary to notice that we’re nonetheless in a ‘standstill interval’, which imposes authorized restrictions on the extent of knowledge we’re in a position to share right now.
Procurement Course of
False impression: This can be a cost-cutting train, and a brand new supplier won’t ship a neighborhood GP Out of Hours Service.
That is inaccurate. The GP Out of Hours service specification has not been modified from what’s presently supplied by ShropDoc, the incumbent supplier. All components of the contract have been retained inside the service specification, and there’s no distinction to what’s presently being delivered.
Though, as NHS commissioners, we have now an obligation to make sure that public funds are spent properly, this isn’t a cost-saving train. Whereas value accounted for 40% of the full analysis, 60% centered on high quality and innovation. All bidders for the contract have been scored primarily based on their capability to satisfy the specification necessities.
Necessary factors for clarification:
- The GP Out of Hours service specification stays the identical as what’s presently supplied by ShropDoc.
- The monetary worth of this procurement course of stays per the present companies supplied; which means this doesn’t characterize a reduce to funding.
- The service will stay a neighborhood provision, delivered by native clinicians.
Whereas we can not share any particulars of the brand new service at current, the specification outlines the necessities of a neighborhood service for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. The significance of native data and values have been additionally emphasised within the service specification.
NHS STW is dedicated to making sure native provision continues to be delivered by native clinicians, and that every one present bases are utilised by the supplier to allow this continuation. Inside the specification, we have now assured that these bases presently commissioned will stay, and we’re working with colleagues from the Powys Educating Well being Board on a mutually useful association to make sure that cross-border entry is maintained.
False impression: The procurement of this service has been carried out unlawfully.
That is inaccurate. Our major goal as NHS commissioners is to make sure the easiest GP Out of Hours Service for our sufferers and residents. We additionally want to make sure the procurement course of complies with nationwide rules, that the service is high-quality, worth for cash, and meets the wants of our native individuals.
Alongside our procurement colleagues. who’re specialists in procurement rules, we have now carried out a strong, clear, honest and lawful course of with the intention to establish the perfect supplier for the GP Out of Hours Service in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
False impression: Some components of the GP Out of Hours contract have been added at a later stage.
This isn’t true. Each the Care Co-ordination Centre and the Single Level of Entry (CCCSPA) have been a part of the printed aggressive course of in October 2024, in accordance with nationwide rules.
False impression: The GP Out of Hours Service is being stopped altogether.
That is incorrect. The service is essential for each the native inhabitants and the well being and care system in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to cut back demand on different companies. The service will stay accessible to everybody, although it might be delivered by a distinct supplier.
The procurement train has been undertaken to make sure provision of a high-quality, worth for cash service. Native residents mustn’t see any unfavourable impact on the service accessible to them and it’ll stay free for all.
Service Supply
False impression: There might be no face-to-face appointments accessible, solely phone consultations.
That is incorrect. As outlined within the service specification, face-to-face appointments type a core factor of this service and can stay accessible each on the present out of hours bases and thru dwelling visits.
Inside the specification we additionally describe the requirement of the supplier to utilise essentially the most applicable base places for service supply, matching capability towards demand, and making certain equal entry to companies. This included the necessity for a number of base places given the geography of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and the continuity of appointment availability within the 5 localities from which face-to-face appointments are presently supplied.
False impression: Companies for Palliative and Finish of Life Care (PEoLC) will not be accessible by way of the GP Out of Hours Service.
This isn’t true. This can be a key factor of the GP Out of Hours Service, as described within the specification and it is important that companies proceed to be accessible for this group of individuals.
For anybody wanting additional info on the service specification please seek advice from part 2.3 Service Description beginning on web page 15.
Public Engagement
False impression: A public session was not carried out for this procurement course of.
As there isn’t a substantive service change, formal session was not required for this procurement train. NHS STW undertook an engagement train over a three-week interval, from 27 August to 17 September 2024, to know the views and experiences of out of hours companies, in addition to on the place enhancements may very well be made.
This included an internet focus group and an internet survey (accomplished by 579 individuals), which was made accessible in numerous codecs to make sure accessibility. The survey was distributed by way of greater than 200 group teams and organisations throughout the county, together with our 50 Basic Practices, and shared extensively throughout native media.
It is very important notice that an prolonged engagement interval wouldn’t have resulted within the present contract staying the identical. By not enterprise a procurement, NHS STW would have contravened the Supplier Choice Regime (PSR) which we’re legally sure by as commissioners.
The engagement report has been printed on the NHS STW web site and for additional info please see query 5 of the Frequently Asked Questions doc.
False impression: The general public has not been knowledgeable through the GP Out of Hours procurement course of.
To maintain residents knowledgeable, we have now utilised quite a few strategies of communications and engagement at every necessary juncture of the method, in keeping with normal practices.
This has included the engagement train talked about above, sharing findings from the survey and focus teams by way of an engagement report, publishing the service specification, and distributing press releases at key phases of the method (in August, October, and January). Moreover, a complete FAQ doc has been drafted and is recurrently up to date, accessible on the NHS STW web site.
Every of those supplies have been distributed to our full distribution record which incorporates media representatives, elected officers, voluntary sector organisations, Healthwatch colleagues, Affected person Participation Teams (PPGs), well being and care associate colleagues, senior leaders, and Basic Observe. The survey was additionally included inside our group engagement and outreach programme the place colleagues attend native conferences and group occasions throughout the county.
Additional Info
Additional info on the procurement course of has been printed on the NHS STW web site, alongside the engagement report which outlines the method undertaken: General Practice (GP) Out of Hours Service.
A Ceaselessly Requested Questions (FAQ) doc can also be accessible for reference, offering solutions to a spread of queries associated to this work: GP Out of Hours Service FAQs.
