The Commissioner (the four NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups of East Kent - NHS South Kent Coast CCG, NHS Thanet CCG, NHS Ashford CCG, and NHS Canterbury and Coastal CCG) is seeking to engage with organisations who are potentially interested in providing a Tier 2 Rheumatology Service.

Background The provision of the Tiers of Care approach is defined as: Tier 1 - Primary Care Tier 2 - Advanced Practitioner led (nursing and therapies) with or without GPwSI Tier 3 - Consultant (Secondary Care) Requirement The Tier 2 service will be led by a Nurse Consultant and Therapy Consultant, using a clinical systems leadership approach and delivered by a team of nurses and therapists working at an advanced level.

The function of the provider will be to ensure a seamless service for rheumatology patients who have non-complex disease.

Routine follow up work will be minimised and alternative review methods such as telephone consultations offered.

All patients will be offered a comprehensive annual review to reduce co-morbidities and complications of disease.

The patients and health care professionals will have access to an advice line with an expected 24 hour response time which will support patient self-management.

Access to urgent joint injections and flare treatments will be provided within 24 hours.

The provider will work very closely with Tier 1 to ensure safe and 'joined up' up care.

The service will also provide a triage mechanism for new referrals, which will reduce inappropriate appointments and unnecessary delays in treatment for patients.

The emphasis is on self-management strategies for this group of patients through structured education sessions delivered by the Tier 2 Service which will be achieved by working closely with national charities and patients support organisations.

Engagement The Commissioner would like to consider approaches from interested providers and those experienced in this field to test the viability of the draft service specification and to consider the procurement options.

To this end the Commissioner is holding a Market Engagement Event in the Channel Suite, Ramada Hotel, Whitfield, Dover, Kent CT16 3EL from 1pm to 4pm on 21 September 2017.

Potential providers should register their interest in attending the event using the contact details below.

We ask that no more than 3 representatives are sent from each interested organisation.