Audiology Service for NHS Isle of Wight CCG

NHS Isle of Wight CCG intend to Direct Award the Audiology Service for 55+ adults to Specsavers Hearcare from the 1st April 2021. Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) is a regional audiology centre that provides a specialist hearing loss service and has identified that there is a significant capacity gap for routine age related hearing loss. The Trust has not been able to maintain the 6-week diagnostic target (First) during the pandemic and the fitting of hearing aids is around 52 weeks+. PHU have given short notice to all CCGs who currently hold a contract with them to inform them that they will not be able to continue with the routine element of the hearing loss service as of 1st April 2021. Specsavers are the only provider on the island that are currently offering this community service under the Increasing Capacity Framework and previously identified to undertake the backlog. The Isle of Wight CCG in the interest of patient safety with continuity of service, efficiency and need wish to Direct Award to Specsavers Hearcare to provide a new routine adult 55+ routine age related hearing loss service from 1st April 2021 for a period of three years with an option to extend for a further three years. The contract value below is for the full 6years (3+3 years)