Cheshire East Borough Council in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council and NHS organisations in Cheshire, is looking to establish a singular integrated community equipment service.

The service will consist of the procurement, storage, supply, distribution, repair, collection, recycling, maintenance and refurbishment of a range of community equipment. This will be for equipment (both simple and complex) to assist daily living, and possibly in the future may include telecare/telehealth and sensory aids (including associated services).

Recognising the changing requirements in health and social care, the commissioners are seeking to purchase services through a single point of contact via a provider who has experience and expertise across the service range.

The service will deliver for the following partners:

— Cheshire East Borough Council,

— Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council,

— Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (NHS).

Cheshire East Council is acting as Lead Commissioner for the procurement of the service.

The service will provide community equipment for adults, children and young people enabling health and Council Partners to meet their legal requirements. This will involve supply of ‘standard’ and ‘special’ items of equipment to clients on a loan basis.

The service will encompass the following areas of equipment supply:

— continuing healthcare,

— provision of pressure care mattresses,

— provision of equipment for schools and early years settings,

— Provision of paediatric equipment,

— provision of equipment for people with mental health conditions,

— allowance for individuals to purchase equipment by use of a direct payment/personal health budget.