Oral Needs Assessment for South West England

THIS NOTICE IS BEIiNG PLACED ON BEHALF OF NHS ENGLAND AND IMPROVEMENT (NHSE/I). NHSE/I South West Region is seeking expressions of interest (using the attached questionnaire) from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver an Oral Health Needs Assessment (OHNA) for the South West of England during the Spring/Summer of 2020.

Dental commissioning is a key priority area for NHSE/I's direct commissioning function, and the intention is to commission an OHNA to commence as soon as possible and for completion within six months of commencement. The OHNA is key in terms of informing commissioning strategy and transformation for dental services in the South West.

The OHNA will provide a review of oral health needs and dental services in the South West area. It is intended that the results of the OHNA will inform the planning and implementation of appropriate services, and oral health improvement strategies targeted at those at specific risk, or in underserved population subgroups.

The OHNA will cover Devon; Cornwall; Somerset; Dorset; Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire; Gloucestershire; Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset. It will also include specifically the oral health needs of the prison population in the South West.

A recent OHNA regarding Special Care and Paediatric Dental Services (SC&PD) has been undertaken in the South West, and this will be need to be considered in terms of alignment and areas of overlap with the Oral Health Needs Assessment when undertaken. Through identifying and gathering sources of existing and relevant data and information which support the needs assessment process, the OHNA will: • Research and describe the oral health characteristics of the population and identify their needs including for populations at risk of poor oral health • Measure the capacity of existing service provision to meet need, and identify any areas where additional capacity or provision is required in terms of supporting the oral health needs of the population • Identify aspects of service provision where further investigation/analysis may be needed The output from the OHNA would be a reference document reporting on the objectives above.

Following receipt of expressions of interest NHSE/I will consider whether to procure the service and, if so, the best method of doing so. Additional information: This notice is an information-gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit NHSE/I or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing interest.

Commissioners are looking to establish what interest there might be in providing such a service from suitably qualified, capable and competent organisations. NHSE/I will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise. Interested parties should note that a response to this notice does not guarantee an automatic invitation to any subsequent formal procurement, which the commissioners will consider in due course.