Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Service 2025

Leicestershire County Council and Rutland County Council (the Councils) are inviting applications from General Practitioners for the provision of ‘Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Service’ in accordance with ‘The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime (PSR)) Regulations 2023 - Direct Award Process B.

The Councils have a requirement for Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Service as part of their wider public health responsibilities.

The service is required to deliver the provision, fitting, monitoring, and removal of IUDs, IUSs and SDIs for contraception purposes for women of Leicestershire and Rutland.

The service will provide patient choice across the geography of the counties and ensure consistent and timely delivery of long-acting reversible contraception.

Service aims are:

- improve sexual health outcomes

- improve access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) to Leicestershire and Rutland residents as part of a range of contraceptive options

- to raise awareness of the benefits of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) by providing high quality advice, support and information on the full range of contraception methods to all those on or seeking contraception

- to increase knowledge of LARC and mainstream contraception amongst healthcare professionals

- to increase knowledge of risks associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and refer to appropriate services

- to help contribute to a reduction in the rate of unplanned pregnancies, particularly in under 18s.

- to enhance professional practice

- to enable Providers to be active participants in an integrated multi-disciplinary service to help ensure easy and swift access to advice

- to ensure that the availability of post-coital IUD fitting for emergency contraception be more adequately provided as another means of reducing unintended conceptions

The service objectives are:

- delivery of a user friendly, non-judgemental, client centred and confidential LARC service

- be a key partner in the local network of contraceptive and sexual health services to help ensure easy and swift access to advice.

This contract is for an initial period of 4 years and shall take effect from 01 April 2025 – 31 March 2029. The Councils may extend this contract beyond the initial term by a further period or periods of up to 24 months (extension periods) to a maximum of 6 years.

The proposed service is based on current and known funding allocations. This could alter through the life of the contract in light of changes in future local and central government funding.