Rheumatology Services

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (“SCFT”) (the “Authority”) sought a provider to deliver additional consultant-led outpatient capacity for its Rheumatology Service at Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital (“BWMH”), following the expiry of the previous insourcing arrangement. Consultant capacity from University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust had reduced considerably, increasing waiting times and clinical risk to patients.

This is an insourcing arrangement: the provider's consultant delivers clinics from within SCFT's own service at BWMH, using SCFT's own booking, reception and clinical systems (SystmOne), rather than patients being referred out to an external pathway. The service covers face-to-face new and follow-up patient clinics, review of medical notes, dictation and typing of outcome letters, management of diagnostic tests, and monthly performance review meetings, operating a minimum of four clinic days a month, in support of the 18-week Referral to Treatment standard and NICE guidelines.

The procurement was a further competition under the NHS Workforce Alliance Insourced Services to Support the Provision of Healthcare Services Framework Agreement (RM6276), within the rheumatology service line, conducted in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (“PSR 2023”). The contract term covers 2026/27, until 31st March 2027, with an option to extend for a further 12 months at the Authority's sole discretion.