Sheffield Children’s NHS FT has opened a market engagement exercise with the intention to explore the options available for supplying online mental health services for children.
The trust is now welcoming input on the draft specification for an external, digital provider of children’s mental health services, with the aim to “better understand the current market landscape and identify potential providers”. Constructive feedback will also be used to shape the trust’s future procurement approach and refine the requirements.
The estimated value of the contract is currently set at £360,000, with a five-year duration and potential start date outlined as 1 January 2026. Interested suppliers have been encouraged to submit their comments and any other relevant information by October 2025.
This follows a recent investment from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council and Brabners Solicitors, who awarded the trust £115,000 to support their accelerator programme. Run in partnership with UP Ventures and Par Equity, the 12-week programme focused on developing and scaling child health technologies for the NHS and the global healthcare market, helping 12 tech start-ups address children’s health challenges such as asthma, diabetes, and ADHD.
Health tech innovations for children: the wider trend
In a recent interview, we caught up with Dr Zafar Chaudry, senior vice president and chief digital and information officer at Seattle Children’s Hospital, to discuss recent digital projects, uses of data and future priorities. Zafar shared insight into Seattle Children’s, which he described as a paediatric health system with 46 sites located across the states of Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho, serving about 13,000 users.
Earlier this year, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust signed a memorandum of understanding agreement with one of the oldest and largest hospitals in Vietnam, with the aim to “collaborate on enhancing specific clinical services” and expand their research portfolio. Part of the agreement with Children’s Hospital 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, also focuses on developing a Children’s Hospital Healthcare Innovation Centre in Vietnam, with plans in place for this to “become the largest in South Asia”.
The Royal London Hospital has highlighted the impact of the use of a virtual platform for its children’s cancer ward, reportedly enabling children deemed well enough to be monitored from home. Launched in 2023, the trust noted that children with cancer are at an increased risk of infection however, with the virtual ward in place, those who are well enough after an initial assessment can return home for remote monitoring.
