Once people no longer need hospital care, being at home or in a community setting, such as a care home, is the best environment for their continued recovery. However, unnecessary delays in being discharged from hospital are a problem that many people experience.
When patients aren’t discharged on time it places further strain on hospital resources, reduces the number of hospital beds available for new admissions, and puts the patient at higher risk of hospital-acquired infections, loss of mobility, independence and re-admission.
Our Patient Discharge and Mental Health Step Down Beds (Care) Services Framework Agreement can facilitate the transfer of patients from hospital beds to a more appropriate level of care, to free-up much needed hospital beds. By discharging patients meeting specific clinical criteria into an appropriate care setting, it reduces instances of re-admission to hospital and enables NHS hospitals and health and care providers to use services like virtual ward support, brokerage, and discharge to assess services – all of which can help them improve patient pathways from acute care to an appropriate care setting.
Framework Agreement Information
The framework agreement offers support to hospitals in the discharge of adults and improves the patient pathway, from acute care to an appropriate care setting. It helps to streamline the transition from hospital to the community/care homes, and therefore reduces delayed transfers of care and unavoidable re-admissions to hospital.
What dates is the framework agreement active?
17 July 2023 – 16 July 2026
(with an option to extend a further 12 months)
Who can take advantage of the framework agreement?
NHS and wider public sector organisations
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)
The framework agreement has been structured into the following lots:
What are the benefits of using this framework agreement?
FREES UP BEDS
Enables hospitals to discharge patients who are medically fit, but still need care into step-down or community-based settings, assessing patients for ongoing care needs outside of the hospital, which releases beds to those who need them.
SUPPORTS THE REDUCTION IN UNPLANNED RE-ADMISSION
Supports the reduction in acute trust unplanned re-admission rates and generates savings to participating authorities from re-admissions by ensuring patients receive timely, appropriate step-down care after discharge – freeing up acute beds and improving recovery outcomes in the community.
ENHANCES CONTINUITY OF CARE
Enhances continuity of care by ensuring patients continue to receive the right level of care in the right setting, improving recovery, reducing the likelihood of complications and ensuring hospital beds are only used by those who need them most.
SUPPORTS THE REDUCTION IN BUREAUCRACY
Supports the reduction in bureaucracy and confusion around patient discharge processes, which can lead to delays for patients and add cost to the system.
SUPPORTS ELECTIVE RECOVERY
By improving patient discharge rates, it supports the reduction in cancellations of elective operations because of a lack of bed capacity.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Supports adequate and timely information sharing between services whenever there is a transfer of care between individuals or services.
Healthcare Case Studies
Partnership enabled by NHS SBS framework saves 23,000 bed days in one NHS Trust
Thanks to a partnership with HomeLink Healthcare, The James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has freed up over 23,000 bed days since the two organisations started working together using an NHS SBS framework to easily and quickly complete the procurement process.
Brand new service up and running in nine weeks
Buckinghamshire Health Trust (BHT) commissioned HomeLink Healthcare to help address its issues with delayed discharges. The agreed solution was to implement Early Supported Discharge and Rehabilitation pathways, both of which included the option for Bridging Package of Care.
Supplier Details
Find out what the press had to say about the framework agreement
Health Business Magazine
Easing the squeeze on hospital beds ahead of winter, and building resilience beyond
National Health Executive
NHS winter planning continues as new patient discharge framework launches
Hospital Times
New framework agreement eases squeeze on hospital beds ahead of winter
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.
