Provision of Out of Hours Mental Health Act Approved Doctor Service for Northamptonshire

NHS Nene and NHS Corby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) wish to undertake soft market testing in order to gain a better understanding of the level of interest within the external market in the delivery of this service. The main objective of the Out of Hours Approved Doctor Service is to enable the timely, appropriate and legal completion of the medical recommendations for Part II sections under the Mental Health Act 1983, allowing compulsory admissions to hospital.

The service will be required to:- • To help facilitate effective inter agency working in order to achieve a speedy, safe and competent assessment under the Mental Health Act, by the Approved Mental Health Professional who makes the application for compulsory admission, and the two doctors required to provide the supporting medical recommendations. • To ensure that the ‘second’ doctor will have commenced the assessment process within 3 hours of the original request by the Approved Mental Health Professional, and thus help contribute to a timely and safe conclusion of the process. We are seeking expressions of interest from providers in relation to this potential opportunity.