West Kent and High Weald Lewes Havens Maternity Pioneer RFI

Pre-procurement market engagement for commissioning a Maternity Pioneer service by NHS West Kent CCG (WK) and NHS High Weald Lewes Havens CCG (HWLH).

WK in partnership with HWLH and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust (MTW) are one of the seven national pioneers pilot areas working with NHS England looking to offer pregnant women more choice, personalisation and personal maternity care budgets.

In order to achieve this, the CCGs are looking to both deepen and widen choice available to women and their families, across CCG boundaries.

Our vision is for all mothers and families to be supported in making a genuine choice about their maternity care and to be able to access high quality and safe services that provide seamless continuity of care.

This will consequently ensure the best possible experience and start in life.

The intention is to increase choice about where a mother has her baby.

We are looking initially to expand community provision by way of exploring market expansion.

This will consequently increase choice for this aspect of the pathway and will increase access and local provision.

We would like to ensure that all women, irrespective of where they live can opt for a homebirth, go to a free-standing Birth Centre or a dedicated obstetric unit with neonatal service.

New technology (e.g. tablets in the community) will enable care to be provided in a wider range of community locations, closer to home, convenient to the family.

Process To inform this project and to clarify the overall service model and detailed service requirements, the CCG is engaging with potential providers to assess their capability and interest in delivering these services within the target localities of West Kent and High Weald and Lewes Havens.

Based on the outcome of the engagement, the CCG will determine the procurement approach, including whether competitive tendering would be appropriate.

We value the views of potential providers who believe they are able to deliver the required services as described below.

We are particularly interested in the key questions summarised in the table, and would appreciate responses from bidders who wish to express an interest in being considered for the service.

Response Please complete the attached questionnaire and return by 5 pm on Tuesday 6 December 2016 to Natalie Manuel at NHS West Kent CCG on email natalie.manuel@nhs.net The Commissioner is supported in this project by NHS South East CSU (SECSU) and its procurement partner NHS Commercial Solutions (NHSCS), which is managing this procurement.