NHS England - Central Midlands - Expressions of Interest for Community Dental Services across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire & Milton Keynes

NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands CSU on behalf of NHS England - Midlands & East (Central Midlands) would like to inform you of an opportunity to provide Community Dental Services across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire & Milton Keynes. NHS England Midlands & East (Central Midlands) commissions a full range of NHS dental services on behalf of its population.

The NHS Five Year Forward View sets out new ways of working so that the NHS does more to prevent ill health and use its finite resources in the most effective way. It cites examples of multi-speciality working within community settings. We are using the philosophy of the Five Year Forward View to develop the Specification for community Dental Services.

NHS England Midlands & East (Central Midlands) (the Contracting Authority) is seeking to identify suitable providers of Community Dental Services (CDS) as part of its strategy for the development and delivery of special care dentistry and paediatric dentistry across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire & Milton Keynes.

Key components of the delivery model: • Core CDS Provision - Providing quality dental care to special care and paediatric groups and selected other hard to reach groups, in both clinic and community settings • Providing a range of public health functions for special care and paediatric groups. To limit the number of general anaesthetics carried out on children, the CDS will act as the gatekeeper for children and adults referred for treatment under general anaesthesia and sedation. Working in collaboration with Health Education England (HEE), NHSE, PHE, acute trusts and general dental practitioners to support this transition • Provision of Dental Services for Bariatric patients who cannot otherwise access other dental services • Urgent or emergency dental care for people who meet the criteria of this service • Advanced services either for patients receiving comprehensive care or on referral • Treatment under sedation including general anaesthesia • Domiciliary Dental Services • Oral Health Screening • Teaching and training for dental team members This specification may also cover: - • Oral Health Promotion & Epidemiolgy

The lotting strategy for this procurement is yet to be determined. A needs assessment and service review is being undertaken to identify existing need and projected future health needs of the population within this particular specialised cohort.

The procurement will include a new pathway based around a single service specification with regards to paediatric referrals to eliminate pre-existing inequalities in the services. A GA pathway redesign is being conducted as part of this procurement process.

The Commissioner is carrying out a market assessment exercise to engage with potential providers to gather information. Potential providers are requested to complete the market assessment questionnaire by 10:00am on Friday 8th February 2019 which is available

Additional information: If your organisation is interested in providing these services as set out above please complete the market assessment questionnaire. The Commissioner would appreciate your feedback on the services being tendered.

We have a separate market engagement opportunity as this was published as a standalone notice within the EU Supply system. Therefore please register your interest against: Quote/tender 34324 - Expressions of Interest for Community Dental Services - NHS England - Central Midlands and complete and submit the questionnaire

This is purely a market engagement exercise, any subsequent procurement will be advertised separately and all organisations wanting to participate will need to respond to the procurement advertisement as and when published.

The responses received during the market assessment exercise will not be taken into account in any future evaluation process as part of the formal procurement process.

Please note the deadline for responses is by 10am on Friday 8th February 2019