Procurement of Primary Care Services to HMP Littlehey, HMP Littlehey YOI and HMP Whitemoor

NHS Cambridgeshire Procurement of Primary Care Services to HMP Littlehey, HMP Littlehey YOI and HMP Whitemoor

Summary Specification

NHS Cambridgeshire is responsible for commissioning healthcare services for the prisoners housed within HMP Whitemoor; HMP Littlehey and HMP Littlehey YOI.

The agreed service model is one where a variety of providers, including HMP Whitemoor, HMP Littlehey and Littlehey YOI , will be commissioned by NHSC to work together to provide comprehensive care.  The Prisons’ healthcare teams will be responsible for co-ordinating care whilst individual providers will have responsibility for complying with the contractual arrangements put in place.

Current Contracts are coming to an end and it is proposed that the following services be put out to Tender:

Primary Care General Practitioner Services

The contractor(s) will provide the full range of primary care services as per the new GMS contract 2004 for essential and additional services, and some enhanced services meeting all the requirements for quality, patient safety, professional responsibilities, personnel development and revalidation and Clinical Governance process which are outlined as part of the GMS contract.

The contract(s) would be offered for 3 years with an option to extend for one year plus one year.  The contract will be an Alternative Personal Medical Services (APMS) contract.  Dates for Service commencement are HMP Littlehey and HMP Littlehey YOI – 03 February 2011 and HMP Whitemoor – 01 March 2011 

Dental Services

The contractor(s) will take responsibility to improve and provide dental care to the prison communities at HMP Littlehey, HMP Littlehey YOI and HMP Whitemoor as required by NHS Cambridgeshire and in accordance with the appropriate NHS regulations. It is to be recognised that Prison dentistry is an integrated part of the prison healthcare team which includes GPs and other healthcare staff.

The contract would be offered for 3 years with an option to extend for a one year plus one year.  The contract is offered under the terms of the NHS (Personal Dental Services Agreements) Regulations 2005 effective from 1 April 2006 as aPDS Plus contract (please note that the contract type is subject to change, in line with the National Dental Access Programme).  The clinical services to be provided are those deemed mandatory services and as a minimum, applicants must meet the requirements of the NHS (General Dental Services Agreements) Regulations 2005 in all aspects relating to the provision of mandatory services. 

The contract excludes the following additional services:

• Orthodontics
• Sedation Services
• Domiciliary Services
  

Date for service commencement to both prisons is 1 April, 2011

Optometry Services 

The contractor is to provide a high quality primary optometric service that provides equity with community services as much as possible within the constraints of a custodial environment, and is based on the services within the National General Ophthalmic Service (GOS)contract 2008
The contract(s) would be offered for 3 years with an option to extend for  one year plus one year as a General Optical Service contract. 

Date of service commencement to both prisons is 1 April 2011

Pharmacy Services 

The contractor is required to provide a safe, efficient and cost effective pharmacy service, which complies with statutory requirements, Prison Rules and Standing Orders, Prison Service Health Care Standards and professional and ethical codes of practice.

The contract with NHSC is for HMP Whitemoor only and would be offered for 3 years with an option to extend for 1 year plus 1 year.

Date of Service Commencement is 1 February 2011

All contractors will provide an evidence based service, which meets the needs of the resident prisoners and reflects the standards and quality of the service they could expect to receive in the wider community within the constraints of a prison environment.

For Primary Medical Services, Dental Services and Optometry Services, NHS Cambridgeshire will consider bids for the services to both sites or for HMP Littlehey/HMP Littlehey YOI and HMP Whitemoor separately. 

Consideration will also be given to bids that provide the full range of services through a lead Contractor.  

Geographic coverage/boundaries

HMP Littlehey, Perry, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 0SR

HMP Littlehey is an adult, male, category C public sector prison near Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire.  The accommodation comprises eight residential wings.  The accommodation is supported by the kitchens, a healthcare department, multi-faith facilities, a gym, sports field, educational facilities and workshops.

The prison has an operational capacity of 726

The prison receives 40 new receptions each month.

The prison employs a team to staff a type 2 healthcare facility comprising primary care nurses and a healthcare officer and assistant.  There is in house Pharmacy provision.

Proposals for delivering basic in-patient care within Littlehey are being developed.

HMP Littlehey YOI, as above

The Young Offenders Institute opened in early 2010 and can house up to 480 males aged 18 – 21 years.  The prison focuses on providing Young Offenders with a portfolio of skills and qualifications to change their futures.  Education is focussed on functional skills to ensure students’ learning is purposeful and relevant to their needs.

HMP Whitemoor, Longhill Road, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0PR

HMP Whitemoor is a male, adult public sector prison situated in March, Cambridgeshire.  It is one of eight maximum security establishments housing up to 458 male category A and B prisoners. 

The prison enables those convicted of serious offences to make positive use of long sentences and reduce the risk of re-offending through assessment, work, education and offending behaviour programmes.  HMP Whitemoor does not accept prisoners with less that 4 years to serve.

The prison employs a team to staff a type 3 facility (24 hour nursing cover) and a primary care service provided by nurses and healthcare officers.

In 2002 a joint venture between the department of Health and the Mental Health Unit established a unit for prisoners with dangerous and severe personality disorders (DSPD), which examines the links between dangerousness and severe personality disorder. The unit provides assessment and treatment models.

In 2004 a Close Supervision Centre (CSC) was opened to provide a supportive, safe and structured environment for prisoners who pose a severe risk to others and enables them to return to a normal prison location.

The prison has an operational capacity of 458 and accommodation is provided in single cells across four main wings.

August 2010