Community Based Skin Surgery Service to Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

Banes, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group are seeking to commission a specialist Community Based Skin Surgery service for patients registered in the B&NES locality Primary Care Networks. The service model is for high risk BCCs, and other lesions that are within the terms of CCG clinical access policies and which need to be treated by secondary care services. The aim of the service is to provide local capacity for patients with high risk BCCs and/or other non-2WW lesions requiring removal by surgery that would otherwise be referred on to the Royal United Hospital NHS FT (RUH) specialist in hospital. Thereby improving access times and ensuring that the right professional treats patients in the right place at the right time. The community service is intended to be provided by a combination of secondary care (service lead; contract holder, consultant level delivery of the surgical service, including responsibility for histology, LSMDT liaison, CQC registration, etc.) and primary care (GP practice, use of surgical facilities and as required administrative, nursing and clinical governance support) working together; alternative community-based models may be proposed for consideration (e.g. located at community hospitals). The specific objectives of the proposed service include: • To provide treatment for high risk BCCs and other lesions traditionally requiring treatment in secondary care pathways. • To improve access, maintain a high-quality service and effectively manage more patients in the community setting. • To give patients the choice to attend a local service with equitable access across their local area. • To reduce pressure on secondary care dermatology services, especially at the Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (RUH). • To provide a service which demonstrates cost effectiveness and clinically based interventions. • To provide a service which demonstrates compliance with clinical governance guidelines. • To provide a patient centred service including as appropriate an emphasis on patient education and prevention. • To support community-based management of high risk BCCs and other lesions traditionally requiring treatment in secondary care. The initial contract term will be for 3 years from 1st July 2022, with an optional extension of any period(s) up to a maximum of a further 2 years, as defined and at the discretion of the commissioners. The financial envelope is £488,006 per annum. This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.