Medvivo has been selected to the preferred provider stage of a procurement process to run integrated urgent care services across Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Swindon and Wiltshire.
The healthcare provider, which has very recently been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by CQC, will be the lead provider, working in collaboration with Vocare and B&NES Enhanced Medical Services (BEMS+).
The preferred provider status is not an award of contract and does not confer a contractual commitment from the commissioners at this stage.
The award of the contract to Medvivo and its partners will only be made if they are successful through following further robust assessment, intensive testing and planning stage.
Once completed the award will need to be approved by the Boards of Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and Wiltshire Council later in the summer.
There will then be a transition and mobilisation period before the new services commence on 1st May 2018.
The new provider will be responsible for running the NHS 111 service across B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire, and developing the service model so callers can be put through to a ‘clinical hub’ of experienced health professionals who can make assessments, advise and arrange urgent care if required.
The provider will also be responsible for a number of other urgent care services, including the GP out-of-hours service in B&NES and Wiltshire and telecare monitoring and urgent care and response at home for Wiltshire Council.
The CCGs and Wiltshire Council are following a detailed and robust procurement process, with sharp focus on the requirement for innovation and continued development of services.
Dr Elizabeth Hersch, local GP and Urgent Care Lead for BaNES CCG said: “We are changing the way we provide urgent care services so they can respond in a better way to the needs of the population and are sustainable for future generations.”
“By combining the NHS111 helpline, GP out-of-hours service and a new clinical ‘hub’ or assessment service we can make sure people receive the right care in the right place for their health needs.
The clinical hub means callers to NHS111 will have quicker access to a range of healthcare specialists so that they can , where possible be treated closer to home.
“This should help reduce pressure on A&E departments so that clinical teams can focus on those needing hospital care.”
Currently the NHS111 service is provided by Care UK in B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire. The GP out of hours service in Wiltshire is currently provided by Medvivo, with Vocare the current provider in B&NES.
Great Western Hospitals Foundation Trust will continue to provide GP Out of Hours service in Swindon (that particular service has not been part of this procurement).
Joining up a number of urgent care services across the region will help ensure everyone has access to the same high quality, personalised and responsive service.