NHS England and NHS Improvement South-East - Market Engagement - Pharmacy Services to Kent and Medway Prisons

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice in relation to a pre-procurement market engagement event, 1:1 meeting and a market questionnaire.

NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) South-East invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced providers who are interested in delivering pharmacy services to Kent and Medway prisons. The in-scope prisons are to be confirmed, but are likely to include:

• HMP Elmley

• HMP Standford Hill

• HMP Swaleside

• HMP/YOI Rochester

• HMP Maidstone

• HMP/YOI East Sutton Park

• HMP/YOI Cookham Wood

• Oasis Restore Secure School (contract commencement TBA)

The indicative date for the contract to commence is 1st April 2023. The annual contract value is expected to be in the region of £2.1 million.

The precise model is to be determined however the expectation is that the pharmacy service will dispense and deliver medication daily from HMP/YOI Rochester to those establishments listed above. It is anticipated that HMP Elmley will have its own dispensing pharmacy as a satellite to HMP/YOI Rochester and will form part of this contract. This recognises its role as the reception prison for Kent and Medway and the unique pharmacy requirements associated with this cohort.

The pharmacy service will:

• Provide high-quality and effective primary pharmacy services, including medicines management to the Prisons, Young Offenders Institutions (YOI) and Secure School within the Kent and Medway geographical boundaries, in a timely and appropriate manner.

• Provide an equivalent standard of service and controls within the prisons to that in the community

• Integrate with the healthcare provider to create a high-quality patient centred service (as defined by NHS Modernisation Agency 2001), including the appropriate essential standards outlined by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) document "Essential Standards of Quality & Safety"

• Work effectively with the healthcare provider, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and other relevant stakeholders.

• Be needs-led, patient focused and change according to the needs of the population of the Kent and Medway prisons and HMPPS.

The provider shall:

• Ensure that the delivery of medicines management services within the prison meets the needs of the individual and diverse prison population, with specific reference to the six strands of equality and diversity.

• Deliver the services using the most appropriate clinical staff to address the needs of offenders and healthcare staff.

• Ensure the implementation of all relevant guidance as applicable and in each case, as amended from time to time to ensure offenders with disabilities and/or communication difficulties can access the services.

• Supply to all non-English speaking offenders a professional translation during all consultations and, for the most common languages spoken, translations of explanatory materials including patient information leaflets.

• ensure that service users are treated with dignity and respect