NHS England South East - Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP

NHS England South East (NHSE) is seeking to commission a Provider(s) who have the capability and capacity to deliver Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) across the South East region, in line with the specified requirements.

The procurement is divided into 5 lots within the South East as follows: Lot 1: Kent and Medway (ICB Footprint) Lot 2: Surrey Heartlands (ICB Footprint) Lot 3: Hampshire and IOW (ICB Footprint) Lot 4: Berkshire (Local Authority) and Frimley (ICB Footprint) Lot 5: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire (Local Authority Footprint)

Providers may bid for one or all Lots. The Contracts will be for a term of 5 years, with the option to extend by 3 years, and services are planned to commence from 1st April 2025.

The eligible population includes patients over the age of 12 diagnosed with diabetes and registered with, or eligible to be registered with a GP, as well as individuals within prisons, secure units and the armed forces.

The aim of the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme is to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst people with diabetes by the prompt identification and effective treatment, if necessary, of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy.

This will be achieved by delivering an evidence-based service that: • focus on improving uptake, reducing inequalities and improving outcomes • is accessible across all service elements • Is engaged, engaging and integrated, working effectively with service users and stakeholders to ensure seamless and high quality care • safe, effective, high quality, wiht robust processes along the pathway • • embeds a culture of quality, improvement and learning • is well-led, managed and staffed

There are three key elements of service delivery, namely: • routine digital screening - from 2025 and 2026 all eligible patients should be managed on 12 or 24 month intervals . • Digital surveillance where more frequent screening of those individuals who may be at increased risk of developing diabetic retinopathy but have not reached the threshold to be referred into the Hospital Eye Services (HES), as required. • Slit lamp bio-microscopy (SLB) for those individuals where normal photography is inappropriate (e.g. those having cataracts).

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) will be introduced into the programme across England in line with national guidance.

Further information on the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme is available at; https://www.gov.uk/topic/population-screening-programmes/diabetic-eye

The projected total contract values are as follows: Lot 1: Kent and Medway - £17,755,303 Lot 2: Surrey Heartlands - £8,084,825 Lot 3: Hampshire and IOW - £16,695,800 Lot 4: Berkshire and Frimley - £11,311,121 Lot 5: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire - £9,927,015

TUPE is likely to apply to this procurement.

Additional information: This exercise is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner(s).

Interested providers will be able to view the opportunity and access the tender documentation via the 'Live Opportunities' list on the e-procurement system, Atamis, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome