Carpal Tunnel Services for North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group

NHS North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group is tendering for Carpal Tunnel Services. Contract period 3 Years with option to extend for a further 2 years.

Carpal Tunnel Services is caused when the median nerve, which runs through a tunnel in the palm of the hand called the carpal tunnel, is compressed. Carpal tunnel decompression is performed by cutting across the roof of the carpal tunnel to release pressure on the median nerve inside.

Symptoms can range from tingling, burning or numbness, hand stiffness and cramping, weakness or clumsiness in the grip, pain that is worse with hand or finger movements or that causes waking in the night. Severe cases if not treated can result in permanent nerve damage and muscle wastage.

Patients suffering the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will be offered conservative treatment as the first course. This will include the fitting of a wrist brace followed by a steroid injection as appropriate. Where this is deemed unsuccessful patients are referred for decompression surgery which is the surgical release of the nerve.

The community service will ensure efficient use of resources via a cost effective service model to achieve best value for money whilst delivering safe and effective outcomes for patients.

The Provider is expected to work in partnership with other stakeholders including referring practitioners and other specialists.

The service will be expected to: • receive all referrals from GP’s, community physiotherapy and the Clinical Assessment Service • provide clinical assessment and confirm diagnosis • give clear support and advice to the patient • perform Electromyography (EMG) tests or refer to secondary care on a restricted basis • administer steroid injections in line with restriction policy • deliver carpal tunnel decompression procedures • provide an outcome summary to the patient’s GP upon discharge • lead on making referrals to secondary care for complex cases • deliver a robust programme of clinical audits to demonstrate planned cycles of continual measurement and improvement • undertake audits on patient satisfaction and implement improvement plans

The total number of decompression procedures undertaken for North East Essex patients in 2014/15 was approximately 490.

To express an interest in tendering for this service and access the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents and all other information concerning the procurement, please go to the Bravo website at: https://attain.bravosolution.co.uk. Click on ‘Register here’ and follow the on screen instructions.

Please note that expressions of interest and access to ITT documentation will not be accepted by any means other than through the Bravo e-tendering system.

The closing date for submitting ITT bids is 12:00 noon on 05th February 2016.

Additional information: The procurement process will be an Open procedure. Regulation 120 of the 2015 Regulations exempt CCGs from the requirements of the new regulations for the procurement of healthcare services commenced before 18 April 2016. Therefore, the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended) apply to the conduct of this procurement exercise. However, neither the use of the term Invitation to Tender nor any other indication shall be taken to mean that the CCG intends to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations save those applicable to Part B Services.

A Suppliers’ Quick Start Guide for Responding to Online Tenders using the Bravosolution portal on which the Procurement documents relating to this opportunity has been attached further on within the Attachments section.