Provision of Diabetic Eye Screening Programme for Staffordshire and Shropshire Locality

NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (NHS Arden & GEM CSU) on behalf of NHS England & NHS Improvement - Midlands would like to notify you of an opportunity to provide Diabetic Eye Screening Programme for Staffordshire and Shropshire Locality. Anticipated start date of 1.1.2020 as the existing contracts will cease on 31.12.2019.

There are approximately 2.9 million people with diabetes mellitus in England, Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes and is one of the leading causes of blindness. Diabetic retinopathy, if left untreated, can lead to sight loss which can have devastating effect on individuals and their families.

Diabetic eye screening is just one component of diabetes care; the screening programme should be integrated within routine diabetes care. The aims of the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) is to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst people with diabetes by the prompt identification and effective treatment if necessary of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy, at the appropriate stage during the disease process.

Commissioners across NHS England & NHS Improvement - Midlands are looking to procure DESP provision across Staffordshire and Shropshire locality. The Service being commissioned should be aligned to the National Diabetic Eye Screening Service Specification Spec N0.22 2018/2019 which aims to ensure a consistent and equitable approach across England, and to govern the provision and monitoring of the DESP.

Staffordshire is a large geography area including Stoke on Trent, North Staffs, Staffordshire & Surrounds, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, and South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula. Access of screening will need to be considered carefully in order to deliver screening to all eligible patients who reside in Staffordshire.

Current eligible cohort size is approximately 73500 patients, with an expected annual growth between 5%-6%. Shropshire covers a large geographical footprint expanding across Telford and Wrekin with some cross border issues with the Welsh border.

Due to the geography span there is a requirement that access points are considered to enable patient accessibility and uptake of the screening provision. Current eligible cohort size is approximately 30000 patients, with an expected annual growth between 5 %-7 %.