SEL ICB (Bexley) Primary Care Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) Hub

NHS South East London Integrated Care Board intends to commission a time-limited Primary Care Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) Hub for the London Borough of Bexley for winter 2026/27. The service will provide additional same-day urgent face-to-face appointment capacity for children and adults presenting with ARI-type symptoms, supporting general practice and the wider urgent and emergency care system during the period of increased winter demand.

The planned service period is 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027, with an optional extension of up to one month. The service is expected to operate from a centrally located Bexley primary care location during core general practice hours, Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:30, and to be staffed by a GP and an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, supported by appropriate administrative capacity. The service will accept referrals from Bexley GP practices and NHS 111, with approximately 10-15% of appointment capacity ringfenced for NHS 111.

The ICB proposes to use the Most Suitable Provider process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. This notice communicates the intended approach. The ICB will assess relevant providers against the statutory key criteria and will retain an evidence-based audit trail of its market assessment, evaluation, value-for-money review and award decision.

Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) hubs are a recognised NHS England model used across England to support the assessment and treatment of respiratory illness and to reduce pressure on emergency departments, urgent treatment centres and general practice. The proposed Bexley model reflects an established primary care-led approach that has operated within the borough over successive winter periods and is consistent with nationally recognised ARI hub delivery models.

Key service objectives and outcomes

• Provide additional same-day urgent primary care capacity for Bexley residents with ARI-type presentations during winter pressure.

• Provide a clinically safe alternative pathway for people who can appropriately be managed in primary care, while maintaining clear escalation routes for patients requiring urgent or emergency treatment.

• Support timely access for adults and children referred by Bexley general practice and NHS 111.

• Support resilience across Bexley general practice and the wider urgent and emergency care system.

• Deliver equitable access, with operational monitoring to identify and respond to variation in referral, utilisation and outcomes across patient groups and localities.

• Maintain effective integration with general practice, NHS 111, urgent treatment and secondary care pathways.

The provider is expected to demonstrate a proven track record in delivering an acute respiratory infection service or a similar service for a minimum of three years in South East London, with prior experience in meeting the key objectives and service requirements as outlined.