Procurement for the provision of Primary Care APMS Services for the Chatham area at the College Health Practice

NHS England South (South East) and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) would like to procure Primary Medical Care Services to patients in the Chatham area of Kent. The Lead Commissioner for this procurement will be NHS England, represented by NHS England South (South East).

NHS England and Medway CCG wish to establish robust primary medical services across the CCG, in line with the CCG's local strategy and the national Five Year Forward View, GP Forward View and NHS England's annual business plan. The College Health practice was established in 2009.

It was procured under APMS for five years, to increase primary care capacity in Medway. Given the changes across the NHS that were happening during 2014, the decision was taken to extend the contract until 31.3.17.

This re-procurement now needs to take place, in order that the new service can be mobilised to start in full as of 1.4.17. The outcomes we are seeking are: • high quality, resilient and accessible primary care; • that functions in line with the CCG's strategies for multi-agency Local Care Teams and Integrated Urgent Care; and • high quality management of long term conditions and health promotion The existing practice population (8,124 Raw Population as at 1.4.16) will be the primary beneficiaries of this, in having continuing access to primary care that meets their needs.

Good primary care will also help to avoid inappropriate uptake of hospital services (especially unscheduled care). The vision at Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is to help people keep healthy and active and live longer lives; not waiting until people become unwell for the health service to see them.

Medway CCG comprises of 53 GP member practices from across Medway towns, responsible for planning and buying local NHS services, serving a practice population of 309,033. The service will be awarded under the Standard Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) Contract.

Bidders are advised to form their own view on whether TUPE applies obtaining their own legal advice as necessary. The procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central & West Commissioning Support Unit (SCWCSU) on behalf of the Commissioner. Contract duration: Initial term 4 years, with a possible extension of any period up to a further 1 year extension.