The Provision of an Advice on Prescription Service on behalf of NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group

This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) and Request for Information (RFI) published on behalf of NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The purpose of this PIN/RFI is to gauge market interest and conditions for the Provision of an Advice on Prescription Service.

The Advice on Prescription service was launched in April 2014 by the CCG in partnership with Citizen’s Advice Bureaux (CABx) throughout Liverpool. The project enables all Liverpool GPs to refer patients who they believe are facing ‘double jeopardy’ in terms of ill-health and poverty for assistance from CABx advisors on a range of issues including: housing, homelessness, job loss, complex debt issues and benefits advice.

The service is managed in partnership across the CABx and 23 spokes operate from three hubs across the city, reaching into every GP practice. The scheme has also enjoyed the full support of many partner agencies including the Mayor’s office, Public Health Liverpool and a number of patient and service user groups.

Evidence from the service has also highlighted exactly why the scheme is so important for local people, with findings showing that 60% of all people referred on the scheme suffer from a long-term health condition, 20% are disabled and 30% of people using the scheme have an income of less than £100 a week. However, the good news is that the project is having a significant impact, and is helping to improve the lives of many people signed up to the scheme.

Providers are asked to complete the following questions to enable commissioners to gain an initial understanding of your service:

1. Please provide details of any experience you have in delivering similar services to that described? 2. Would you have capacity to deliver from April 2016? 3. Please provide brief details on current and future capacity to provide The Provision of an Advice on Prescription Service? 4. How extensive is your knowledge of the Liverpool area?

Potential providers wishing to express an interest in participating in the RFI and any tender process should do so by emailing their interest to [email protected] by 4pm on 18th June 2015.

Please note that an expression of interest in delivering the service is not a tender response. An expression of interest is no indication of a commitment to participate in the tender process nor does it infer any special status on those providers who do submit an interest.

Potential providers who do not express an interest at this stage will still be able to apply in the future. All responses will be treated in confidence. This expression of interest does not commit the CCG to undertake the procurement of the service and the CCG has a right to withdraw the notice.