NHS Greater Preston Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Chorley & South Ribble CCG plan to approach the market for providers with an interest in providing Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Services delivered in communities within the geographical areas covered by the CCGs (information can be found at https://www.greaterprestonccg.nhs.uk/ and https://www.chorleysouthribbleccg.nhs.uk/ about both CCGs).

Prior to the start of tendering activity the CCGs are keen to receive comments on their draft specification (which can be found in the attachments area of this notice) from potential providers.

The deadline for any comment is 12pm on Tuesday 30th August 2016.

Comments should be sent to Sophie Riding Sophie (sophie.riding@nhs.net).

Aims and Objectives of the Service To provide a community based ENT service to diagnose and treat a range of ENT conditions, and manage relevant follow-up activity within the service before final discharge back to the care of the patient’s own GP, or onward referral to secondary care, where necessary, via the RMC.

The service will provide patients with timely access to diagnostics and treatment, providing a ‘one-stop’ service where possible and appropriate, and will be delivered by a range of appropriately trained and accredited clinicians that may include: • GPs • GPwSIs (must be appropriately trained and accredited) • ENT Specialist Nurses • Audiologists • ENT Staff Grade Doctors • ENT Consultants The service should improve access to ENT services, enabling a reduction in waiting times and improved choice for patients.

It will allow GPs to refer patients for investigation without the need for a secondary care referral, and within a shorter timeframe.

The following is provided for the purposes of guidance only and is a purely indicative range.

The approximate value of current services is between £1.3m to £1.5m a year.

The CCGs would seek to achieve appropriate financial efficiencies as a result of the subsequent procurement exercise.