Growing patient backlogs, elective recovery budgets being cut, lack of resource and an aging population is putting increased strain on NHS services.
The Insourcing of Clinical Services Framework Agreement enables the use of insourcing support services across the NHS, securing additional clinical capacity to help meet increased demand.
You can bring in a third-party provider who utilises your Trusts premises out of hours, during the weekend and in the evening, and uses equipment that would normally be dormant. For the patient, there is no difference – they are still seen at their hospital, and they receive quicker care. In most cases, insourcing simply extends the Trust’s existing clinical service.
Insourcing is a short to medium term solution that allows you to retain capacity planning in-house, ensuring that patients can be seen within the Trust.
Framework Agreement Information
The framework agreement supports the use of insourcing support services across the NHS, enabling trusts to secure extra clinical capacity and help meet increasing demand. This short to medium term solution allows trusts to retain capacity planning in-house and ensures that patients can be seen within the trust.
What dates is the framework agreement active?
03 July 2023 – 02 July 2027
Who can take advantage of the framework agreement?
All NHS organisations across the United Kingdom
How was the framework agreement procured?
This framework agreement was procured in accordance with The Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015. This framework agreement remains a compliant route to market under the new Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. If you have any questions, please contact the team.
Further competition and direct award
Via this framework agreement, you can run a further competition, or choose to direct award to a supplier in compliance with Regulation 33 of the Public Contracts Regulations.
How we can support?
We offer different levels of support, including SME advice and robust templates for you to easily run your own process, or additional support to design and run a further competition on your behalf.
How can I access the framework agreement?
Access framework agreement documentation via our Customer Framework Agreement Portal (CFAP)
What is insourcing?
Insourcing is defined as the employment of a third-party organisation to perform medical services/procedures on trust premises. It differs to locum and agency staffing supply with the full end to end service being provided, not just staff.
The supplier uses the NHS organisation’s premises and equipment to deliver these services. Insourcing is largely focused on secondary care and the services are generally used out of hours when the premises/equipment is not being used by the NHS, thus making efficient use of the services.
Insourcing is designed to be results driven by utilising additional capacity provided by a supplier. This could be, for example, but not limited to, reducing patient waiting lists by a certain number over a given period or to triage a certain number of patients within a given period. Virtual patient appointments may also be undertaken by the insourced provider.
What are the benefits of using this framework agreement?
UTILISES PREMISES OUT OF HOURS
Enables facilities to be utilised out of hours which supports with addressing patient backlogs and reduces the need to outsource patients to private hospitals.
SUPPORTS MAINTAINING PATIENT CARE
Services are offered to Trusts at, or below the NHS Unit Rate. This approach supports Trusts in maintaining patient care and alleviating waiting lists while promoting long-term cost savings.
IMPROVES PATIENT OUTCOMES
Supports faster access to treatment, improving patient outcomes and satisfaction by providing extra resource.
EXTRA CAPACITY
Appointed suppliers can bring forward new services throughout the life of the agreement to ensure all Healthcare Resource Groups (HRGs) are covered.
SUPPORTS REFERRAL TO TREATMENT TARGETS
Insourcing provides a cost-effective and safe solution for NHS trusts to meet referral to treatment targets (RTT).
IMPROVES OPERATIONAL EFFCIENCY
Improves operational efficiency by reducing idle time for NHS theatres and diagnostic equipment.
Supplier Details
(1) Supplier has provided evidence indicating their intent to achieve ISO9001 certification but is yet to be fully certified
(2) Supplier has provided evidence indicating their intent to achieve ISO14001 certification but is yet to be fully certified
(3) Supplier has not supplied their service rate card to NHS SBS and therefore cannot be benchmarked at this time. If you are considering engaging with one of those suppliers, please contact nsbs.insourcing@nhs.net
Find out what the press had to say about the framework agreement
HCSA
Framework Agreement helps NHS tackle waiting list backlog
NHE
NHS launches new waiting list-busting agreement
The Clinical Services Journal (CSJ)
Framework Agreement helps NHS tackle waiting list backlog
Insourcing News
Strategic Procurement Support
If this framework agreement doesn’t cover the goods or services you require, or a framework agreement isn’t the optimal route to market for your needs, we can provide tailored strategic procurement support. Find out more here.
