FOI 2025/1475

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information request concerning the procurement of your Integrated Urgent Care services. Could you kindly supply the following information:

1. What is the name of the organisation(s) currently providing Integrated Urgent Care (IUC) services for your ICB, including:
2. NHS111
3. Clinical Assessment Service (CAS)
4. GP Out of Hours (OOHs)
5. When were the contract start dates for your above named IUC contracts?
6. What is the duration of the current initial contract term per contract? If contracts include extension clauses, please advise on the duration & frequency.
7. When are the current IUC contracts due to expire? (including any extension periods which have been confirmed or utilised)
8. What is the estimated total annual contract value or budget allocated for each of your current or future IUC contracts named above?
9. Does the ICB have an anticipated timeline for the procurement of future IUC contracts? If so, please share details.
10. Does the ICB intend to commission future IUC service components (NHS111, CAS & OOHs) separately or together? If separately, please advise on how you will/might separate the lots?
11. Does the ICB intend to introduce additional services or expand the scope compared with the current IUC contract provision?
12. Do your existing IUC providers utilise AI triage within service delivery? If yes, which models are deployed?
13. For future IUC procurements, does the ICB intend to mandate AI triage & if so, is there a specific AI triage model which would be preferred or mandated?
14. Can the ICB confirm which procurement process they intend to use for future IUC procurements (e.g. competitive process, Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulation)
15. Has the ICB conducted (or intend to conduct) any market engagement exercises or Prior Information Notices (PIN) regarding future IUC contracts? If so, please provide details & any associated documentation from completed market engagement or advise on anticipated timelines for future IUC market engagement.

1.

a. North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust

b. The GM CAS is currently provided by Greater Manchester Urgent Primary Care Alliance

c. There are several providers currently providing GP Out of Hours services across the 10 Greater Manchester Localities. These are:

• Go To Doc Limited
• Mastercall Limited
• BARDOC Limited
• Salford Primary Care Together Community Interest Company
• Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust via the Wigan GP Alliance
• Greater Manchester Urgent Primary Care Alliance (providing GM CAS)

2.

a. NHS 111 (NWAS) – 01/10/2015.

b. & c. For GP OOH’s and GM CAS contracts dates please refer to the table in the response to question 3.

3.

a. NHS 111 (NWAS) Original contract term from 01/10/2015 to 30/09/2020 – Extension under COVID-19 Level 4 Command & Control arrangements from 01/10/2020 to 30/09/2023 Agreed single tender waiver to extend the contract from 01/10/2023 to 31/03/2025, with an option for a further 12-month extension if required.

b. & c. See below table for GP OOH’s and GM CAS contracts:

4.

a. NHS 111 (NWAS) 31/03/2026.

b. The contract for GM CAS is due to expire on 31/03/2026, a 12-month contract extension was included and has been enacted.

c. See above for GP OOH’s and GM CAS contracts.

5.

a. NHS 111 (NWAS) – the services provided by NWAS form a block contract therefore the value for this service cannot currently be disaggregated.

b. & c.

6. NHS Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board is the lead commissioner for NHS111. Therefore, you may wish to contact them directly for the information you seek. To assist you please find a link to their website and information about how to make a Freedom of Information request below.

https://www.lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk/contact-us/foi

In terms of the GM CAS and GP OOHs contracts, there is no anticipated timeline to re-procure these contracts, however, there is the intention to review these arrangements in due course.

7. Please see response to question 6. As there is currently no anticipated timeline, there is no clarity as to how these contracts will be re-procured.

8. As per responses to questions 6 and 7, we are unable to provide a clear response on the scope of these services in the future at this time.

9. As the current contracts are based upon historical CCG arrangements, it is unlikely that AI triage is included within current service delivery.

10. As per responses to questions 6 and 7, we are unable to provide a clear response on the scope of these services in the future at this time.

11. As per responses to questions 6 and 7, we are unable to provide a clear response as to how these services will be procured (i.e., which process) at this time.

12. NHS Greater Manchester does not currently have any market engagement exercises or Prior Information Notices (PIN) regarding future IUC contracts. Please refer to the response to question 6. regarding NHS 111 (NWAS).