Provision of NHS Practitioner Health Service

Description

NHS Practitioner Health Service (NHSPH) provides free and confidential mental health assessment and treatment services for health professionals (as service users) with complex needs and circumstances. NHSPH operates in a unique space where there is a crossover between the professional and regulatory environment in which a clinician or health professional works, and their mental health treatment needs. NHSPH expertise lies in managing the confidentiality associated with accessing health care, taking responsibility for the safety of the service user accessing NHSPH but also the professional and patient responsibilities and risks associated with a health professional's role. NHSPH's understanding and experience are in the mental health presentation of health professionals, especially where this is a high risk of suicide, and the specialist support they may require returning to safe, effective practice. It is a commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan. NHSPH operates alongside local staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs which will support the majority of health and social care staff mental health needs. A small number of healthcare professionals may require more complex support which cannot be met by the local services; this is the purpose of NHSPH. Lot 1: NHSPH operates in a unique space where there is a crossover between the professional and regulatory environment in which a clinician or health professional works, and their mental health treatment needs. NHSPH expertise lies in managing the confidentiality associated with accessing health care, taking responsibility for the safety of the service user accessing NHSPH but also the professional and patient responsibilities and risks associated with a health professional's role. NHSPH's understanding and experience are in the mental health presentation of health professionals, especially where this is a high risk of suicide, and the specialist support they may require to return to safe, effective practice. More information about NHSPH, its objectives and how it operates can be found in the attachments and NHSPH's website: https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/ NHSPH will operate alongside local staff Mental health and wellbeing Hubs which will support the majority of health and social care staff mental health needs. A small number of healthcare professionals may require more complex support which cannot be met by the hubs; this is the purpose of NHSPH. More information about the hubs can be found in the attachments and NHS England's website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/staff-mental-health-and-wellbeing-hubs/ NHSPH will operate alongside local staff Mental health and wellbeing Hubs which will support the majority of health and social care staff mental health needs. A small number of healthcare professionals may require more complex support which cannot be met by the hubs; this is the purpose of NHSPH. More information about the hubs can be found in the attachments and NHS England's website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/staff-mental-health-and-wellbeing-hubs/ As the current NHSPH contract is due to expire at the end of March 2022, the commissioners; NHS Primary Care Group, People (health and wellbeing) team and Mental Health team have been exploring next steps for NHSPH including the ongoing need of the service (due to the pandemic and other services that has emerged) and the likely current market conditions (due to perception of limited capability following original procurement in 2016). Following legal and professional advice an early engagement notice via contracts finder (PIN) (2021 / S 000-014102) was published 21st June 2021 to notify the market of the future opportunity and to gain input for considering our options to appoint a new contract from April 2022 for 2 years until 2024, with the option to extend for further 2 years until 2026. Through this PIN we attempted to engage the market inviting potential bidders to register an interest and partake in a questionnaire and market information event. Following this exercise, it was concluded that there is an absence of capability or interest in the market to warrant implementing a competitive procurement exercise. Additional information: The contract value detailed is for the full potential contract period of 4 years (2 years with the option to extend for a further 2 years).