The University of Strathclyde is undertaking a procurement for the provision of a range of digital services in support of its Substance Use and Mental Health Interventions using Digital Technology (SUMIT) project covering 1,500 test beds.
The project sets out to develop and evaluate the digital transformation of services within a test bed environment for 1,500 beneficiaries. Activities include collaboration with four local demonstrator sites to deliver a skills development programme for 500 staff and a community of practice to promote the implementation of digital products; the development of three digital products for people to confidently use digital devices or products to access support and improve health and wellbeing; and an evaluation of “what works” to inform service delivery and policy development around reducing inequality.
Three lots are outlined for the procurement: digital tools facilitating self-help, directing people to relevant information, guidance, or support; solutions offering personalised tracking, goal setting, and peer communication; and capabilities for data sharing across services.
Contracts will run for an initial period of 31 months, according to the notice, with options to extend for up to two 12-month periods. Bidders are expected to meet a number of requirements, including a minimum turnover of £200,000 to £500,000 over the last three years.
Selection will be based only on previous experience, with bidders required to provide evidence of one example from the last three years of their organisation delivering “service innovation in a digital context”, to cover the successful delivery of digital solutions in healthcare settings, or collaborative working in digital product development and implementation.
Wider trend: Digital mental health
In its latest meeting, the board of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust highlighted digital in supporting mental health pathways, including the use of ambient voice technology in giving back time to care, and virtual reality for children and young people’s emotional wellbeing. Ambient voice technology will be piloted for admin work, it shares, and automated information sharing will let schools check in and consider support options for children from their setting. A pilot of extended reality as an intervention for young people presenting with anxiety or emotion-related school avoidance is continuing, and the trust is now focusing on improvements following the digitisation of neurodevelopmental screening processes.
The government has launched a call for evidence to inform the development and implementation of a new mental health strategy for England as the next phase in the 10-Year Health Plan programme of reform. “This review, chaired by Professor Peter Fonagy, will make recommendations on how we can shift from a mental health system that responds late and through diagnosis, to one that responds earlier, more proportionately and with improving participation in education and work in mind,” the government states.
“Positive early results” are reportedly being seen from a virtual ward pilot for older adults with complex mental health needs in Sussex, with services being delivered via a combination of remote and community-based care. The pilot is part of a wider transformation programme across the region, offering support to older people to remain in their own home or care home rather than being admitted to hospital, mitigating distress and confusion that can accompany admissions, as well as discharge delays waiting for support for ongoing care needs.
