Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Services - Hertfordshire

This notice is to inform the market that a contract has been awarded to its incumbent supplier, Bupa, to continue to deliver Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Services within Hertfordshire.

On 7th March 2023, the Authority published a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice to inform the market of its intention to award this contract (reference 2023/S 000-006628). This is a short-term contract which started on 1st April 2023 and will end on 31st March 2024 with the option to extend for a further year to 31st March 2025.

It is the intention of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (HWE ICB) to implement an integrated contracting approach in conjunction with system partners. This short-term contract enables the strategy to be developed and adopted as part of the CHC contracting process, avoiding service disruption and maintaining continuity of care for our patients whilst this work is completed.

The continuing care in-patient care home service is available for adults aged 18 and over who are registered with a Hertfordshire GP and have been determined as eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare and who have expressed a care home placement and whose needs can be best met within that environment. The service is accessible to anyone with a medical condition that can be safely and appropriately managed in a care home environment.

Elements to be provided by the service are likely to include: a) Case management approach. b) The nursing process: formal review by named nurse and senior support staff. c) Promoting Health and wellbeing. d) Multidisciplinary working. e) Inter-agency working. f) Advocacy. g) Process of dealing with referrals and pre-admission arrangements. h) Admission arrangements. i) Physical environment (security and maintenance). j) Risk assessment and management. k) Safeguarding vulnerable adults procedure. l) Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. m) Relatives' support. n) Infection control procedures. o) Acute Care Management. p) End of life care. q) Step up or step down arrangements1. r) Discharge arrangements. s) Aftercare - bereavement/follow ups.

Bupa Care Homes operate a number of homes throughout the Hertfordshire area from which these services will be provided. The contract has been in place with Bupa since April 2013 with a cumulative contract value to end March 2023 of £43,303,376.

The maximum value of the new contract is £1,920,000 per annum. Should the optional extension be used, the maximum contract value for the 2-year period is £3,840,000.

As this was a non-competitive process, the closing date identified in this Notice is the date by which the approval to award this contract was agreed through internal governance processes. The date awarded date is the date on which the contract was concluded with Bupa.