12-Lead ECG Interpretation & Reporting Service across Merton & Wandsworth (including equipment provision)

NHS Merton and NHS Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Groups are inviting engagement from interested providers, to inform the finalisation of a specification for a new service that will support 62 GP practices to undertake 12-lead Electrocardiography (ECG) diagnostics of patients within a primary care setting. The service will assist GPs to prevent unnecessary referrals into hospital and support improved detection of atrial fibrillation in primary care. GP practice staff will undertake the ECG testing with adult patients directly, usually from within a GP practice setting although some testing may need to be undertaken within the domiciliary setting (i.e. patient's home or a care facility). The new service will provide a route for GP practice staff to transmit the ECG traces they have taken from adult patients, to the service provider to be interpreted by suitably qualified and experienced clinical professionals (expected to be registered cardia-physiologists/cardiologists). The resulting enhanced interpretation reports are then communicated back to GP practices, ensuring compatibility with their primary care information management systems (currently EMIS and Vision) to allow efficient integration into patient records. The new service model will include the service provider to be responsible for providing and maintaining the ECG equipment used by GP practice staff, but only to the 22 GP practices in Merton. Wandsworth GP practices will continue to own and maintain their own ECG equipment. The service provider will also be required to provide appropriate training to GP practice staff regarding their use of ECG equipment and transmission of traces to the service provider for interpretation. Circa 4,800 ECG interpretations are anticipated per year as a minimum, increasing annually. This market engagement intends to identify potentially interested providers and invite their feedback on the new service model as specified, including a focus on the commercial aspects of the contract such as pricing. The current intention is to award a single contract for 3 years, with service commencement from July 2020. Following market engagement, the CCGs intend to commence a process to award a contract from February 2020 to support a contract being awarded by early April 2020. A draft Service Specification is attached, along with a brief Memorandum of Information providing supporting information. Interested providers are invited to complete and return the attached Market Engagement Questionnaire.