Non-Obstetric Ultrasound (NOUS) Any Qualified Provider (AQP) for Nottinghamshire

NHS Nottingham & Nottingham ICB are seeking suitably qualified organisations to provide a local, direct access non-obstetric ultrasound service with staff qualified to appropriate levels of skill and experience, using ultrasound equipment which complies with the guidance set by the Royal College of Radiologists, connection to NHS image transfer solutions, the ability to integrate with e-Referral system, robust performance management systems and stringent levels of clinical governance and compliance with CQC essential standards.

The care pathway being commissioned is pre-appointment communication with Patients, the diagnostic investigation and a report being sent to the referrer, which covers not only the description of the investigation and the findings, but also where appropriate covers any recommendations for further imaging or investigation and advice on management. Structured reporting will be required to support local referrers in their options for further clinical management. The services will need to be fully quality assured, validated and supported by the local Commissioners.

The Provider must aim to provide an excellent Patient experience during all parts of the process - to include the examination and the administrative services. In order to measure this, Providers should have in place robust mechanisms for collecting Patient feedback using approaches that reflect the diverse nature of their Patient population. This should include as a minimum, a Patient satisfaction survey, and one real time feedback mechanism. There must be a sound process for receiving and dealing with suggestions, compliments and complaints.

The aim of the service is to aid early diagnostics and avoid the need for unnecessary referral to secondary care, or to support the shift of activity into a primary care setting, where this will improve access. Where there are clear secondary care clinical pathways with ultrasound as a core component, it is more appropriate for this diagnostic to be undertaken as an integral part of the clinical pathway.

The provider will be expected to perform Services across the geography of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB Footprint.

Bidders should note this is a 2 year and 9 month initial term contract with an option to extend the service for up to a further 24 months as required, whilst a review of diagnostics is undertaken, which may lead to a change of service.

The contract is let on a zero value, zero volume basis and activity is not guaranteed.

From April 2022, NHS Nottingham & Nottinghamshire CCG became NHS Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board which is the new Contracting Authority