East Staffordshire Community Services

This notice is being placed to inform the market of a modification to contractual arrangements for East Staffordshire Community Services which has taken place from April 2023 up to 30th September 2023. The Commissioner needed additional services from the original provider; to continue with this established, innovative provider, who is responsible for the coordination and delivery of all community services, inclusive of all ages, across East Staffordshire. A change of provider could not have been made for economic and technical reasons (given requirements of interchangeability or interoperability with existing service) at this time, without giving significant inconvenience/added costs which would not be in the patients' interests.

The provider has ensured stability and rigour in the delivery of high quality, sustainable services as they are today, whilst also working to progress towards the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent ICS vision. The services are a range of core community services (including current in reach community services at HMP Dovegate). These are services for all ages and for all patients registered with one of the 18 GP practices across East Staffordshire.

In the light of the continued effects on the health system of the pandemic subsequent covid outbreaks and the unexpected severity of impact at the time of the modification decision, engagement to develop this service has been delayed. The Commissioners needed to continue with the contract arrangements and will continue to keep this situation under review. It would have been unduly disruptive to the continuity of services for patients and have caused significant inconvenience for the Commissioners to undertake a procurement process at that time.

It was therefore necessary for the contracting authority, to extend the length of the community provision with Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust. The value of the overall contract including this modification during term is £32,082,715.00. The value of this modification itself is £4,583,245.00.

Additional information: Description of the economic or technical reasons and the inconvenience or duplication of cost. Regulation 72 (1) (b) (i) (ii) At the time of the modification decision in 2022, the continued effects on the health system of Covid 19, Omicron outbreak and the unexpected severity of impact. Engagement for designing and developing new systems had been delayed. This modification from 1st April 2023 to 30th September 2023 has been necessary to allow continuity of service to patients for a period of six months. The Commissioners continue to keep this situation under review. It would have been unduly disruptive to the continuity of services for patients and have caused significant inconvenience for the Commissioners to undertake a further procurement process at the time. It was therefore necessary for the contracting authority, to extend the length of the community service with Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust from 1st April 2023 to 30th September 2023.