NHS Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (HVCCG) would like to advise the market place of their intention to procure a suitable provider to deliver a Community Ophthalmology Service for the registered population of NHS Herts Valleys CCG (620,000) with 67 GP Practices across four localities.

HVCCG is seeking to procure a high quality, effective and timely advice, assessment, diagnosis and treatment Community Ophthalmology Service in a community setting across Herts Valleys four localities.

It will be cost effective, meet all relevant clinical and quality standards (including NICE guidelines), ensuring only those patients requiring a hospital-based specialist service are referred on.

It will also reduce the time taken for patients to move from ophthalmology referral to diagnosis and treatment, undertake specified ophthalmology out-patient surgical procedures in a community setting and be a more accessible service for the patients.

The Community Ophthalmology Service will be for patients over the age of 16 years and registered with a GP in the Herts Valleys CCG catchment area.

The Service will consist of • Triage of referrals to the Service; • Appointments to see patients for initial ophthalmology diagnosis, treatment (if required) and follow up consultation (if necessary). • Provision of Community Ophthalmology Out-Patient Procedures The contract is expected to be for 3 years plus an optional extension of 2 years and will commence on the 1st November 2018.

The 3 year contract value is expected to be in the region of £3.5m to £4.5m The procurement is expected to go live in early February 2018 and documentation will be available to interested suppliers through the ProContract System e-portal.

Further information will be published via Contracts Finder in due course.

HVCCG would like to invite interested providers to a market place event to be held on Wednesday 31st January 2018 at the following venue: Holiday Inn Hotel, Langley Suite, Breakspear Way, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4UA The event will commence at 2.00pm until 4.00pm.

Please confirm your attendance by emailing the Procurement Team, NEL Commissioning Support Unit at NELCSU.ProcurementNorthants@nhs.net by no later than Tuesday 30th January 2018.

Please note that the Holiday Inn Hotel has now implemented parking charges in the car park.

However, there will be no charge as long as you register your car with reception on arrival for the event.