Provision of Independent Sector Abortion Services for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB

This is an Intention to Award Notice pursuant to Regulation 9 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 for the provision of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Independent Sector Abortion services. A Process C Direct Award is being followed under the above-named regulations.

The existing provider is satisfying the current contract and will likely satisfy the new, non-significantly changed contract. The current Independent Sector Abortion service contracts are due to expire on 31st March 2026.

The provider for this service has delivered high-quality, accessible services under the existing agreement, ensuring compliance with clinical standards and patient safety requirements. The existing care pathways for Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) services are well embedded across the local system with strong links to NHS providers and sexual health services.

This provider also works well in offering women a wider choice, including different clinic locations. These pathways are well understood by clinicians and patients.

The new contract period is from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2029. The value of the new contract is £350,000 per annum (plus inflationary uplifts from 2027/28).

Excluding any future uplifts, this is a total contract value of £1,050,000 over the total 3-year period. The value of the original contract was £680,400 over a period of 3 years.

The proposed new contract is not significantly different from the existing one; it does not meet with the considerable change threshold, as specified in Regulation 9 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The total lifetime value (3 years) of the original contract is £680,400; The total lifeime value (3 years) of the new contract is £1,050,000.

The percentage increase is 54%, however, the increase does not exceed the £500k threshold (it is approxiametly £370k). The new value reflects increases in patient activity volumes in general and shifts in patient choice of provider as well as national changes to abortion service payments under the NHS Payment Scheme, which are beyond the control of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board, and of the provider.

There are no material changes to the Service Specification. The decision to use Process C to assess and award the Independent Sector contract was made by the members of the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Strategic Commissioning Committee (SCC) on 3rd December 2025; and PSR Process C decision-making documentation and provider engagement and assessment were undertaken between January and March 2026. There were no declared conflicts of interest for the individuals making the decision.