The combined face-to-face services include:

(a) Local Urgent Treatment Centre(s) (UTC)

(b) Out-of-Hours Face-to-Face service (previously known as GP Out-of-Hours service incorporating base site(s) and home visits) for the patient populations of NHS Medway and NHS Swale Clinical Commissioning Groups NHS Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical commissioning group are named in this notice to enable them to join the contract during its term or extension option. Bidders should not assume NHS DGS CCGs inclusion in any aspect of the proposals submitted.

Improving out-of-hospital services will mean more care can be delivered closer to home, and hospital attendances and admissions will reduce.

The new vision delivers:

— for those people with urgent but non-life threatening care needs, a highly responsive, effective and personalised service delivering care as close to home as possible, minimising disruption and inconvenience for patients and their families,

— for those people with more serious or life threatening emergency care needs, treatment in centres with the very best expertise and facilities in order to maximise the chances of survival and a good recovery.