ESX DAAHS Direct Access Adult Hearing Service

Procurement of Direct Access Adult Hearing Service under an Any Qualified Provider (AQP) framework. The service will be commissioned using AQP process. The Commissioner is NHS High Weald Lewes Havens CCG as Lead Commissioner and NHS Eastbourne Hailsham Seaford and NHS Hastings and Rother as Associate Commissioners. The Commissioner is supported in this project by NHS South East CSU (the CSU) and its procurement partner NHS Commercial Solutions (NHSCS), which is managing this procurement.

The aim is to provide a comprehensive patient-centred direct access adult hearing service for the age related hearing loss in line with national guidance and local requirements. The vision for people with age related hearing problems is for them to receive, high quality, efficient services delivered closer to home, with short waiting times and high responsiveness to the needs of local communities, free at point of access. The Commissioner has identified six Key principles of an integrated hearing service, within which the Direct Access Adult Hearing Service operates:

1. Reduce prevalence of avoidable permanent hearing loss. 2. Encourage early identification, diagnosis and management of hearing loss through improved patient and professional education. 3. Provide person centred care, and respond to information and psychosocial needs. 4. Support communication needs by providing timely signposting to lip reading classes and assistive technologies and other rehabilitation services. 5. Promote inclusion and participation of people who are deaf or hard of hearing. 6. Compliance with clinical guidance and good practice.

The Direct Access Adult Hearing Service is aimed at adults (over the age of 55) experiencing difficulties with their hearing and communication who feel they might benefit from hearing assessment and care, including the option of trying hearing aids to reduce these difficulties.

Under ‘Any Qualified Provider’ contracts there will be no guarantees of volume in the contracts awarded. In securing services under the AQP process, the authority needs assurance of competence, quality and safety standards just as it would for services secured under a formal tender process. Any provider will be eligible to join the qualified provider list subject to demonstrating competency against specified criteria. Qualified providers will be expected to deliver the service under the NHS Standard Contract. As a qualified provider there are no levels of guaranteed activity. Payment is made based on actual provision. The successful provider(s) will be required to sign the NHS contract for the service, accepting all terms and conditions.

Additional information: This procurement is being conducted using the Bravo eSourcing portal. Details of how to register on Bravo and how to access the procurement within Bravo are in the attached document "How to apply for this procurement". This procurement is identified on Bravo as "ESX DAAHS Direct Access Adult Hearing Service".