NHS Leeds Direct Access Non-Obstetric Ultrasound Services (NOUS)

NHS Leeds West CCG, NHS Leeds North CCG and NHS Leeds South and East CCG wish to contract with providers on an AQP (Any Qualified Provider) basis to provide Non Obstetric Ultrasound Services (NOUS) for patients registered with a Leeds GP practice. The Commissioners require NOUS services from providers with staff qualified to appropriate levels of skill and experience, the ability to integrate with the E-Referral System, the ability to integrate secondary care image exchange systems, robust performance management systems and stringent levels of clinical governance. It is expected that the successful applicant will either be able to or be working towards submission of activity data via Secondary Users Services (SUS) and to be able to or working towards integration with primary care information systems. Applications will be accepted from current providers and new applicants wishing to provide the service for Leeds patients. (A map is attached of current provision for information) The successful providers will be required to sign the NHS Standard Contract for the service, accepting all terms and conditions. The services will be commissioned using the Any Qualified Provider process under which assurance of competence, quality and safety standards is required. Providers will be eligible to join the qualified provider list subject to demonstrating competency against specified criteria. Activity will be paid at National Tariff rates and it is expected that this will include the price of any pre-procedure preparations. A CQUIN scheme will be available. It should be noted that under the AQP model, there will be no guarantees of volume payments in the contract award. The commissioners will require mobilisation of services within three months after contract award.