NHS Scotland has extended its £4 million contract with Medtronic for a colon capsule endoscopy managed service; with an estimated value of £400,000, the extension is granted for a six-month period to allow Medtronic to complete “the final number of funded procedures”.
The procurement sought to improve the patient journey, improve outcomes, and reduce the need for hospital-based optical colonoscopy procedures, with the supplier providing services including patient preparation; managed delivery; and support of patients in the community with capsule ingestion, adverse events, video upload and video analysis.
The managed service sought by NHS Scotland also covered the validation of findings and the creation of a “comprehensive report” to be transmitted electronically to the referring consultant. The contract highlighted needs for integration into patient records and a dedicated portal for status reporting and information for patients and their families or caregivers.
Delivery of the contract is divided into two phases, with phase one covering a patient trial to determine clinical and economical viability of the service, and phase two working toward “widespread adoption” across NHS Scotland.
Spotlight on data and digital in Scotland
Back in August, a new Digital and Data Capability Framework launched in Scotland with the aim of supporting digital skills and competencies across the entire health and social care workforce. It identifies six key ares of focus, including using technology; innovation and service improvement; identity, safety and wellbeing; communication; handling information and data; and learning and development.
August saw the publication of NHS National Services Scotland’s (NSS) strategic framework for 2024 – 2026, setting out the organisation’s vision, values and priorities – namely to enable transformation by supporting the implementation of new solutions, to continually improve services, and to active seek opportunities for collaboration. NSS is also a core partner in the Scottish government’s plans for the Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre, with a vision for a “digitally resilient nation” and setting out an overview of operating principles, functional structure and service development plans.
A HTN special report published this month examined the landscape of digital healthcare in Scotland at present and for the future, with input from representatives from the Scottish Government, NHS NSS and Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, to hear their views on projects and priorities.
Digital procurement across the NHS
The last month has seen a number of opportunities shared across the NHS, including early engagement around digital neighbourhoods for the South West region, with NHS England South West looking to carry out an “evaluation piece”, asking interested suppliers to complete a questionnaire to help inform the specification for any potential future opportunity.
Two trusts in Essex issued a tender sharing their intention to establish a framework for a data partner to support their unified electronic patient record programme, whilst Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB shared a market engagement prior information notice indicating plans to deliver a digital front door to act as a single entry point for citizens and provide access to a range of products, services and partners.
NHS Shared Business Services also published an open opportunity, seeking suppliers to join a framework to provide digital workplace solutions across the NHS and other public sector organisations. It aims to cover off-the-shelf software licensing, bespoke software development, infrastructure equipment supply, and infrastructure support, maintenance, and management services.
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (ULTH) announced this week that it had selected a preferred supplier for its electronic patient record, with Insight Direct (UK) implementing a Nervecentre solution, subject to contract and approval of full business case.
