NWL0124 Provision of Community Neurology (Headache) Service in Harrow

NHS North West London Integrated Care Board ("NHS NW London ICB" or "ICB") requires the provision of community Neurology (Headache) services in the North West London borough of Harrow. The aim of the current service is to provide basic community services, ensuring that the local Harrow population is able to access sub-acute specialist care without requiring a referral to the hospital based service. Service users shall be referred by primary care, within the borough of Harrow only. Key requirements for rapid access to community neurology (headache) services for patients with: • Patients with migraine • Patients with specific migraine sub groups making management in primary care more difficult • Patients with chronic daily headache & medication overuse headache • Patients with short-lasting headaches, cluster headaches & short, sharp headaches • Patients with headaches associated with old age, trigeminal neuralgia, temper m&ibular dysfunction & post-herpetic neuralgia • Patients with refractory 'sinus' headaches • Patients with trigeminal autonomic cephalgia (cluster headache) • Patients over age 50 with new headache symptoms (provided no red flag symptoms) • Patients with chronic headache lasting more than one month (& no red flag symptoms) • Patients who have received prophylactic medication from GP with no benefit All referrals received by the service should be clinically triaged with the following three outcomes: 1. Returned with advice only, allowing the GP to manage the condition in primary care. 2. Accepted into the community service for care. 3. Referred directly to the Hospital service as the referral condition is outside of the scope of the community service. The service shall follow any referral guidelines released by the ICB (located at https://www.nwlondonics.nhs.uk/professionals/referral-guidelines-and-clinical-documents).

The purpose of this notice is to be transparent about NHS NW London ICB's intention beyond October 2022.

The ICB is committed to developing & delivering common pathways across North West London. These will be based on optimising patient experience, using best clinical evidence & providing value & improving outcomes. Over the coming months we will work with system partners to design those pathways & develop how we deliver these models of care in future.

To ensure continuity of service delivery during this process, a new contract will be put into place with the current provider, Harrow Health CIC, from 1st October 2022 for up to 18 months. The estimated annual value of the contract is £126,670.00.

NHS NW London ICB is committed to assess the needs of the service users & consider how (if relevant) it needs to secure the needs of the people who use the services, & improve the quality & efficiency in the provision of the services including through the services being provided in an integrated way.