Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Agree to the proposed model, with NHS health checks being a key gateway into the healthy lifestyle services, and both services operating within a broader partnership pathway.

2.    Agree that a direct award is made to Connect Healthcare CIC for local GPs to deliver the NHS health checks programme for one five-year cycle from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2027, with the provision to extend the contract for a further five years to allow for another cycle of the NHS health check programme.

3.    Agree to recommission healthy lifestyle behaviour change services by competitive procurement, comprising services to support stopping smoking, weight management and improve access to exercise.

4.    Agree that the alcohol screening component included within the previous integrated healthy lifestyle services model forms part of the alcohol pathway and is recommissioned as part of the services described in the Cabinet paper of November 2021.

5.    Note the variation of the contract with Parkwood Healthcare Limited with a continuation of up to a maximum of twelve months to 31st March 2024 (in 2 x 6-month blocks.) The aim is to complete the procurement for a new contract by 1st October 2023, but with an option to extend if required.

Consideration was given to the report which outlined the options and recommendations regarding the future model for healthy lifestyle service delivery and the NHS health checks programme. The report set out how the whole pathway should operate to support Public Health improvements for the Borough over the next 10 years. It was proposed that the NHS health checks and the health lifestyle services were considered as 2 elements of one pathway.

The report recommended that a direct award be made to Connect Healthcare CIC with local GP’s delivering the NHS health checks programme for one 5 year cycle from 1st July, 2022, to 30th June, 2027. Subject to a review of Key Performance Indicators and outcomes, it was recommended that there be provision to extend the contract for a further 5 years. The basis of the direct award to Connect Healthcare CIC, which was a legal entity formed by all GP practices in Rotherham, was that there was no other viable provider. This was because only Primary Care could identify clinical eligibility for the NHS health check and deliver a compliant model based on their knowledge of patient records.

Further recommendations related to the future model for healthy lifestyle services which provided specialist behaviour change support. It was proposed that those services be commissioned by competitive tender and include services to support stopping smoking, weight management and improve access to exercise.

It was also proposed that the alcohol screening component which had been included within the previous integrated healthy lifestyle services model should form part of the alcohol pathway and be recommissioned as part of the services described in the November 2021 Cabinet report titled “Public Health Proposals for Recommissioning Rotherham’s Alcohol and Drugs Service.”

The option of re-tendering the exact same services had been discounted due to the issues with the current model as outlined in the report and the aim to meet the recommendations from the national review of NHS health checks.

At the meeting it was reported that the need for such pathways in Rotherham was evident due to the life expectancy being lower than the national average, the obesity levels being higher than the national average with similar gaps in other health issues leading to a range of health inequalities.

Resolved:-

That Cabinet:

1.    Agree to the proposed model, with NHS health checks being a key gateway into the healthy lifestyle services, and both services operating within a broader partnership pathway.

2.    Agree that a direct award is made to Connect Healthcare CIC for local GPs to deliver the NHS health checks programme for one 5 year cycle from 1st July, 2022, to 30th June, 2027, with the provision to extend the contract for a further 5 years to allow for another cycle of the NHS health check programme.

3.    Agree to recommission healthy lifestyle behaviour change services by competitive procurement, comprising services to support stopping smoking, weight management and improve access to exercise.

4.    Agree that the alcohol screening component included within the previous integrated healthy lifestyle services model forms part of the alcohol pathway and is recommissioned as part of the services described in the Cabinet paper of November 2021.

5.    Note the variation of the contract with Parkwood Healthcare Limited with a continuation of up to a maximum of 12 months to 31st March 2024 (in 2 x 6 month blocks.) The aim is to complete the procurement for a new contract by 1st October 2023, but with an option to extend if required.