Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS DEVON INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Aperture House, Pynes Hill, Rydon Lane,
Exeter
EX25AZ
Contact
Tracey Kerslake
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK4 - Devon
NHS Organisation Data Service
QJK
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
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
Antipsychotic Medicines Prescribing and Drug Safety Monitoring
Reference number
QJK-25_APMR
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85121270 - Psychiatrist or psychologist services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This notice is being published to alert providers of a potential procurement exercise for the provision of an antipsychotic prescribing and drug safety monitoring service for patients registered with a GP in Devon.
Any values and timescales stated within this PIN are for guideline purposes only and should not be taken as a guarantee.
NHS Devon is seeking providers of psychiatric lead service to offer drug safety monitoring and prescribing of antipsychotics in line with the relevant NICE regulations and guidelines for a known cohort of patients.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £0.01
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK4 - Devon
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
In England, the prevalence of psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and affective psychosis) is estimated to be around 0.5% of people aged 16 and older. A 2014 survey found that 0.7% of survey respondents had experienced psychotic disorder in the past year. NHS England also notes that psychosis affects up to 3% of the population and is associated with significant social impairment and reduced life expectancy.
The 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) found that around 0.5% of people aged 16 years or older in England had received a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or affective psychosis) in the preceding year. The median lifetime risk for schizophrenia is 7.2 per 1000 people. The male-to-female risk ratio is 1.4:1.
The age of onset peaks around age 20-25 years for males and 25-30 years for females. A smaller second peak of onset occurs in women after the age of 45-50 years.
Patients with schizophrenia have a higher mortality and shorter life expectancy than the general population due to physical illness (including cardiovascular diseases and cancers), accidents, and suicide.
The population this contract is due to serve is a defined group of patients that previously had antipsychotic medication administered through primary care. Due to the primary care provider being unable to continue prescribing Antipsychotic medication we require a psychiatry led provider to manage the on-going prescribing and drug safety monitoring of this identified group of patients who at the point of transfer are not open to secondary MH services.
The primary aim of this service is to provide ongoing prescribing function for the antipsychotic medication and drug safety monitoring. The initial requirement is for up to 120 patients across NHS Devon from early October 2025. However, the number of patients may increase throughout the lifetime of the contract and may alter by point of contract award.
The provider will:
• Ensure ongoing drug safety monitoring and prescribing including appropriate blood tests* and ECGs and informed by NICE guidelines
• Ensure that any concerns related to the person's mental health are appropriately escalated to the secondary mental health provider.
• Issue prescription that will be dispended by the patient's local pharmacy.
It is anticipated that after an initial review, 1-2 months prescription lengths would be required, with a 12 month annual review. However, the provider must use clinical judgement, informed by NICE guidance, to determine the physical health monitoring needs of the individual and safe length of prescription.
The ICB envisages care being delivered as close to home as possible, however this could include the service being delivered remotely, with the preferred remote method of contact being agreed with the patient. Where the service is delivered remotely it is anticipated that the primary method will be via Teams (or an equivalent system for safe virtual delivery) and the provider will take reasonable steps to support the patient in the utilisation of IT where advice and guidance may be required e.g. easy to read, jargon free instructions. Should digital poverty or IT connectivity prevent use of virtual delivery, the provider needs to have mitigations available.
A range of strategies to proactively engage with patients especially in relation to non-attendance will be required.
*blood tests include
• Full Blood Count, Blood Lipids, Plasma Glucose or HbA1c, Liver Functions Tests, Creatinine Kinase, Prolactin
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 October 2025
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Any interested parties are asked to confirm by email to d-icb.contracting@nhs.net. Please use: Antipsychotic Medication Monitoring and Prescribing in the subject line. Further information will then be sent in reply, including an engagement questionnaire which will be used to inform future planning with regard to this procurement.
Completed questionnaires should be returned to the above address by 12 noon 26 August 2025