Outsourced Physiotherapy Services

Background:
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) hold a prime provider contract for the delivery of musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy in West Kent. In order to achieve the Key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with this contract and aligning with the expectation of collaboration with other providers it is our intention to issue an invitation to tender for providers of MSK physiotherapy in the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells area. This will enable us to deliver Key outcomes along the following themes:

- Deliver positive patient experience of MSK care by ensuring patients are seen in the right place, at the right time, by the right person
- Provision of specialised musculoskeletal physiotherapy for the local population
- Adhere to key principles and guidelines governing MSK physiotherapy provision
- Reduce and maintain low waiting times across the locality, achieving nationally mandated maximum 12-week wait for community outpatient physiotherapy.
- Prevent the development of chronicity in MSK conditions by providing timely access to expert physiotherapy assessment, advice and treatment with subsequent reduction in longer term healthcare costs.
- Improve clinical and health and wellbeing outcomes patients by supporting them to self-care and enabling self-management of long-term conditions
- Reduce health inequalities by improving access to MSK physiotherapy

Access To Services:
KCHFT receives Physiotherapy referrals from GPs in the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge localities and wishes to offer those patients who are registered with these GPs an opportunity to be treated at a convenient outpatient clinic within the area. KCHFT will refer such patients to the Provider, who will only accept such referrals
under this Contract. This Contract does not include patients that have self-referred or come direct from other referring parties, including direct from a GP Practice.

The Provider will offer all patients who are referred via KCHFT an initial appointment for assessment.

The Provider will offer the first assessment appointment for a 30 minutes slot with a physical
therapist experienced in musculoskeletal disorders that will allow a thorough assessment and a treatment plan to be devised. For those patients who are deemed suitable for treatment following the initial assessment appointment, the treatment plan will continue in follow-up appointments which will last for 30 minutes each. A course of therapy will typically take between two and six sessions depending on the type and severity of the condition.

The provider must offer the proposed physiotherapy service at a location within 5 miles of Royal Tunbridge Wells, to ensure a reasonable and practicable offering to referrals in relation to travel and accessibility. The Provider will ensure that all treatment facilities comply with Department of Health standards in terms of cleanliness and offer patients a safe, pleasant and suitable environment that has equitable access to services.

Key Requirements:
The Provider will ensure all staff are suitably qualified, experienced and carry out their work with the appropriate skills required to meet each patient’s need. The Provider will ensure that the service is provided only by physiotherapists who have maintained their professional registration, adhere to professional codes of conduct at all times and follow agreed protocols within the service. All patient assessments will include a realistic patient treatment plan, with appropriate goals and will include advice on the promotion of a healthier lifestyle for patients.

The Provider will meet the following objectives: -
- ensure that all patients referred to the service receive a comprehensive assessment of their condition
- provide treatment and/or self-management advice to patients to ensure resolution of symptoms and return to full function where possible or education and self-care strategies for patients with longer term conditions
- ensure onward referral to other KCHFT health care professionals
- specialist physical therapist is considered when necessary
- remain within the NHS provision where eligible

Contract Term: The length of the contract is to be 24 months plus three extension opportunities in tranches of 12 months (2+1+1+1 years), with a total potential term of 5 years.

Forecasted Activity: (please note this is a current estimated activity for this ad hoc provision, and there is no guaranteed activity or obligation from the authority)
New Referrals Per Week: 20
Average Sessions per Referral: 4
Forecasted Sessions per week: 80
Forecasted New Referrals Per Month: 80
Forecasted sessions per Month: 320
Forecasted New Referrals Per Annum: 1040
Forecasted Sessions Per Annum: 4160

If you would like to express your interest in this opportunity, please log in / register on the Proactis e-Tendering Portal here: https://procontract.due-north.com/Login/ and register your interest against DN692299.

Expression of interest window closes on the 16/10/2023 @ 00:00hrs, ITT documentation will be published to all suppliers who have expressed an interest, on the 16/10/2023.

A detailed specification of requirements will be issued at the ITT Stage.