NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme

NHS England wishes to procure a Framework Agreement with up to 4 providers who are able to provide, anywhere in England, between 10,000 and 100,000 behavioural interventions aimed at preventing/ delaying the onset of Type 2 diabetes in people with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia (or pre-diabetes) over the 3 year term of the Framework Agreement The numbers of behavioural interventions may vary during the term of the Framework Agreement and these figures are estimates only. The primary aim of the NDPP is to reduce the incidence of Type 2 diabetes in the cohort referred onto it (i.e. those with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia).

The secondary aims are: to reduce blood glucose parameters (Hba1c or Fasting Plasma Glucose) in participants at 12 months and beyond; to reduce weight of participants at 12 months and beyond and to maximise programme completion rates by those referred onto it. A tertiary aim of the programme is to establish sound data collection mechanisms to ensure that programme effectiveness to reduce the long term microvascular and cardiovascular complications of Type 2 diabetes, as well as to reduce the associated higher mortality risk, can be assessed.

The behavioural interventions should include a focus on diabetes risk, weight loss, physical activity and diet and explicit use of behavioural theory and strategies. The focus is on individuals who are on the threshold of developing diabetes and “non-diabetic hyperglycaemia’ is defined as having an HbA1c 42 – 47 mmol/mol (6.0 – 6.4%) or a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 5.5 – 6.9 mmol/mol.

Only individuals aged 18 years+ will be eligible for the behavioural intervention and the primary routes of referral will be by a GP or via the NHS Health Check and a blood test must have been completed prior to referral. Successful providers may be able to seek potential service users using a "direct to consumer" approach.

NHS England will seek to identify Clinical Commissioning Groups and Local Authorities with which it might enter into separate arrangements in relation to referrals. It is anticipated that CCGs and/or Local Authorities will be involved in awarding contracts under the Framework Agreement and the contracts may be awarded by way of a direct call off or following a reopening of competition.

The results of the behavioural interventions will be evaluated to inform any potential changes to the specification during the term of the Framework Agreement which NHS England may make during its term. Please see full information in Attachment 1.