NHS Wakefield CCG Ophthalmology Service Consultant-led (AQP)

NHS Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is seeking to procure the provision of a consultant-led ophthalmology service for the population of the Wakefield District offering a 3-year contract with the option to extend the contract term for a further 2 years. The procurement will be an any qualified provider (AQP) process.

This will be an out of hospital-based service and the service provider(s) will work with The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, primary care and medical eye care services to ensure the seamless transfer of patients, as required.

Ophthalmology is a high risk specialty in the Wakefield area in terms of growing demand, due to the ageing population and those with long term conditions.

NHS Wakefield CCG currently commission consultant-led AQP non-urgent ophthalmology and cataract surgery services separately. The new model of care is centered on the integration of these services.

It should be noted that under the AQP model, there will be no guarantees of volume or payment in the contracts awarded.

Whilst the contract will have a £0 value budget, estimated costs associated with consultant-led service procurement, based on 3 years, is £8,487,228.

Below provides 3-year activity data for ophthalmology delivered by the consultant-led AQP providers.

Indicative activity

Cataract surgery:

2016/17 - 6023;

2017/18 - 7373;

2018/19 - 7182.

Non Urgent Ophthalmology:

2016/17 - 4681;

2017/18 - 5656;

2018/19 - 5834.

- activity for non-urgent ophthalmology has increased each year,

- activity for cataract surgery increased in 2017/18 and had a slight decrease in 2018/19.

The above data does not include activity undertaken by The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, any other acute trust or independent sector provider.

Referrals for ophthalmology services remain high volume from GP practices and optometrists.

The purpose of the service is to provide high-quality and safe effective consultant-led elective non-urgent ophthalmology and cataract surgical services and support the management of local ophthalmology services.

The service provider will be responsible for delivering an integrated pathway to include advice, outpatients, diagnostics, treatment, surgical procedures and long term conditions follow-up care as either a minor day case procedure or inpatient elective service for non-urgent ophthalmic conditions/complaints and cataract surgery defined by the commissioner's referral guidelines.