Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
197 Eyre Street
Sheffield
S1 3FG
Contact
Procurement Team
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKE32 - Sheffield
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.southyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.southyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
NHS South Yorkshire ICB Barnsley Place - Social Prescribing High Intensity Users Service
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) (the ‘Authority') intends to extend the contract for the Social Prescribing service contract, which incorporates the High Intensity User Service, without competition until 31 March 2027 to the incumbent providers as detailed below:
Barnsley Healthcare Federation (BHF) CIC
Principal and/or registered office address: Oaks Park Primary Care Centre, Thornton Road, Kendray, BARNSLEY, S70 3NE
The aim of the service is to provide social prescribing services for High Intensity Users of Barnsley Hospital Foundation NHS Trust Emergency Department. This cohort of service users present regularly via 999 calls and ED attendances which can lead to numerous hospital admissions.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £89,810
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKE3 - South Yorkshire
Main site or place of performance
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The service has been run alongside other services to provide enhanced primary care services to improve access and experience of patients. Access to non-clinical services is paramount in helping to make NHS services more sustainable due to escalating demands for health care. Social prescribing helps by enabling people to receive the right level of care in the right location; and helps to reduce hospital attendances, calls on other services such as YAS, 999 and 111; and, clinical appointments in GP practices.
An initial review has been undertaken of the service, considering activity, the service delivery model and the achievement of the objectives and expected outcomes included within the service specification. The social prescribing service has been found to be beneficial in improving the health and well-being of the patients supported, evidenced by achievement of the action plans and through case studies. Additionally through potential efficiency savings due to the impact of patients usage of other NHS services.
Further work is ongoing to consider transformation of the service with scope to link the review work ongoing in relation to urgent and emergency care, including further analysis of data regarding patients’ high usage of the Emergency Department and consider the potential future achievement of the high intensity user service. Additionally, enabling the further development of systems in place to more fully analyse the impact of the social prescribing service, for example at 6 months following discharge from the service and also consider potential options for mitigation of other risks such as the support for patients re-referred into the service.
These factors have therefore impacted on the ability to fully assess and evaluate the Social Prescribing Service in the context of other changes.
It would not be in the public’s best interests to procure a model that may no longer be right for the local population. Nor would it be in the public’s best interests to de-commission a service that is currently supporting the people of Barnsley, and supporting the 2024/25 priorities and operational planning guidance overall priorities to improve ambulance and A&E wait times, admission avoidance and access to primary care.
Ceasing the contract would greatly impact patient access and would put a burden back into GP practices and other services at a time when resources are stretched to meet the priority mandates from NHS England. Therefore, South Yorkshire ICB recognises that it is necessary to further extend the Social Prescribing Service, to 31 March 2027.
The annual contract value for the period 1/04/2024 to 31/03/2025 is currently £44,905 per year.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
An initial review has been undertaken of the service, considering activity, the service delivery model and the achievement of the objectives and expected outcomes included within the service specification. The social prescribing service has been found to be beneficial in improving the health and well-being of the patients supported, evidenced by achievement of the action plans and through case studies. Additionally through potential efficiency savings due to the impact of patients usage of other NHS services.
Further work is ongoing to consider transformation of the service with scope to link the review work ongoing in relation to urgent and emergency care, including further analysis of data regarding patients’ high usage of the Emergency Department and consider the potential future achievement of the high intensity user service. Additionally, enabling the further development of systems in place to more fully analyse the impact of the social prescribing service, for example at 6 months following discharge from the service and also consider potential options for mitigation of other risks such as the support for patients re-referred into the service.
These factors have therefore impacted on the ability to fully assess and evaluate the Social Prescribing Service in the context of other changes.
It would not be in the public’s best interests to procure a model that may no longer be right for the local population. Nor would it be in the public’s best interests to de-commission a service that is currently supporting the people of Barnsley, and supporting the 2024/25 priorities and operational planning guidance overall priorities to improve ambulance and A&E wait times, admission avoidance and access to primary care.
Ceasing the contract would greatly impact patient access and would put a burden back into GP practices and other services at a time when resources are stretched to meet the priority mandates from NHS England. Therefore, South Yorkshire ICB recognises that it is necessary to further extend the Social Prescribing Service, to 31 March 2027.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
23 January 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Barnsley Healthcare Federation
Barnsley
OX1 1DE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKE3 - South Yorkshire
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £89,810
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £89,810
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The aim of the service is to provide social prescribing services for High Intensity Users of BHFNT Emergency Department. This cohort of service users present regularly via 999 calls and ED attendances which can lead to numerous hospital admissions.
The service has been run alongside other services to provide enhanced primary care services to improve access and experience of patients. Access to non-clinical services is paramount in helping to make NHS services more sustainable due to escalating demands for health care. Social prescribing helps by enabling people to receive the right level of care in the right location; and helps to reduce hospital attendances, calls on other services such as YAS, 999 and 111; and, clinical appointments in GP practices.
An initial review has been undertaken of the service, considering activity, the service delivery model and the achievement of the objectives and expected outcomes included within the service specification. The social prescribing service has been found to be beneficial in improving the health and well-being of the patients supported, evidenced by achievement of the action plans and through case studies. Additionally through potential efficiency savings due to the impact of patients usage of other NHS services.
Further work is ongoing to consider transformation of the service with scope to link the review work ongoing in relation to urgent and emergency care, including further analysis of data regarding patients’ high usage of the Emergency Department and consider the potential future achievement of the high intensity user service. Additionally, enabling the further development of systems in place to more fully analyse the impact of the social prescribing service, for example at 6 months following discharge from the service and also consider potential options for mitigation of other risks such as the support for patients re-referred into the service.
These factors have therefore impacted on the ability to fully assess and evaluate the Social Prescribing Service in the context of other changes.
It would not be in the public’s best interests to procure a model that may no longer be right for the local population. Nor would it be in the public’s best interests to de-commission a service that is currently supporting the people of Barnsley, and supporting the 2024/25 priorities and operational planning guidance overall priorities to improve ambulance and A&E wait times, admission avoidance and access to primary care.
Ceasing the contract would greatly impact patient access and would put a burden back into GP practices and other services at a time when resources are stretched to meet the priority mandates from NHS England. Therefore, South Yorkshire ICB recognises that it is necessary to further extend the Social Prescribing Service, to 31 March 2027.
The annual contract value for the period 1/04/2024 to 31/03/2025 is currently £44,905 per year.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Independent Choice and Procurement Panel.
Wellington House
London
SE1 8UG
Country
United Kingdom