Published date: 18 October 2017

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Closing: 21 November 2017

Contract summary

Industry

  • Health services - 85100000

Location of contract

West Midlands

Value of contract

£500,000

Procurement reference

tender_156161/626600

Published date

18 October 2017

Closing date

21 November 2017

Contract start date

1 April 2018

Contract end date

31 March 2020

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

NHS England is responsible for the commissioning of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, in accordance with the section 7A (public health functions) agreement. The programme aims to reduce morbidity and mortality through early detection and effective clinical management of cervical abnormalities by delivering a systematic, quality assured population-based screening programme for eligible women. High and equitable coverage of the population is required to ensure maximum programme effectiveness.

Cervical screening coverage has been steadily declining and is now well below the national target of ≥80%. There are differences in coverage across Local Authority areas across the West Midlands with Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Coventry having consistently lower coverage than neighbouring areas.

NHS England commissions cervical screening services from GP practices, each of whom provide the service for their registered population eligible for the service. Historically, women have also had access to cervical screening at sexual health clinics through provision by Primary Care Trusts. However, following changes to commissioning arrangements, responsibility for sexual health services transferred to local authorities.

NHS England is now seeking to re-instate cervical screening in the community and commission an enhanced service on previous arrangements as an alternative option to GP provision. The aim of the service will be to increase cervical screening access and coverage for women in the West Midlands by providing additional testing in established settings. The service will focus on lower coverage areas in the West Midlands

More information

Links

About the buyer

Contact name

David Heason

Address

Cross O Cliff House
Bracebridge Heath
LN4 2HN
England

Email

David.Heason@ardengemcsu.nhs.uk