Provision of community based Deep Vein Thrombosis Services within North Staffordshire. The key objective is to appoint one provider to deliver a “one stop shop” facility in a primary care or community setting. The aim of this service is to reduce the need for appropriate patients to require access secondary care services. The service will offer assessment, diagnostic and treatment facilities which must include scanning facilities for North Staffordshire GPs wishing to exclude a potential DVT in their patients. Given the geographical footprint of North Staffordshire, it is anticipated that the provider will ensure that the DVT service supports the care closer to home principle and as such provide a facility both in the north and south of the catchment area. Any appointed provider will be required to work alongside our existing primary care service. The anticipated start date for the service is no later than 1.4.2012 and therefore the provider will need to be in a position to deliver the service from this date.