In 2015 NHS Somerset CCG sought through formal competition a provider to undertake a pilot for ESD for stroke patients with acquired brain injury. The pilot tested different elements and identified that further exploration (concerning the alignment of rehabilitation for stroke sufferers and other neurological conditions) is required to determine the final, most efficient and effective service model. The scope of the services includes the provision of a unified, dedicated specialist interdisciplinary rehabilitation team to provide active therapy as required by the patient; including but not limited to Physiotherapy, OT, Psychology and SLT: therapies supported by and intimately related to the wider community services available in Somerset. The current contract expires in 04/18: this further award extends the Pilot to 31/3/19 with the current provider, SomPar: identified as the only provider capable provider of short-term delivery. The services awarded under this notice value £1.5m.

In 2015 NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group sought through formal competition a provider to undertake a pilot for early supported discharge for stroke patients with acquired brain Injury for patients registered with a Somerset GP. The ESD Service enables the accelerated discharge of patients and provides specialist rehabilitation and social support in the community which is comparable to the intensity of that of a specialist rehabilitation unit. The service is delivered in the patient’s place of residence at the time of discharge for circa 6-8 weeks and operates 7 days per week. The scope of the services includes the provision of a unified and dedicated specialist interdisciplinary rehabilitation team who provide active therapy as required by the patient; including but not limited to Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Speech and Language therapy. These therapies are supported by, and intimately related to, the wider community services available in Somerset. Throughout the pilot, different elements have been tested but it has been identified that further exploration is required to determine the final, most efficient and effective service model for the future as patient numbers have not been sufficient to determine a final model. The further exploration work is concerning the alignment of rehabilitation for stroke sufferers and other neurological conditions. An options appraisal identified that to enable a long-term solution for ESD for Stroke Patients it would be beneficial to extend the current service and seek further data to ensure that the final model meets the needs of Somerset CCG and the patients of Somerset. The currently contracted service expires in April 2018. In making this further award, the Commissioners are extending the Pilot until 31 March 2019 with the current provider, Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, who has been identified as the only capable provider of delivering the short term requirement. The value of the service awarded under this notice is £1.5m. Given the strong existing relationships, knowledge and experience, Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has been identified as the only reasonable option for delivering the service in a limited period of time and to ensure that service users receive continuity of care. Additionally, this approach enables the continuation of integration of local services, to release significant benefits to patients and it is also expected to improve the use of public funding. Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust was the only provider that expressed an interest in the 2015 procurement. Commissioners are pleased with the quality of the service currently being delivered and have no concerns regarding the proposed provider’s ability to deliver the service through to April 2019. As a result of all of the material factors noted above, the negotiated procedure without prior publication has been followed and justified under regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) ‘competition is absent for technical reasons’.