Decision details

Services aimed at improving Sexual Health and have been reviewed with the intention of commissioning them in a form that best matches local need from the start of 2015/16.  The results of the review and financial modelling will be presented and a recommendation made for ongoing commissioning.

RESOLVED that the Executive gives approval to extend current contracts of £295,000 per annum with provider Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for a period of three years (plus 2) with review after 2 years.

1. A sexual health service review has been completed, with input from a variety of stakeholders following local consultations in Bracknell Forest. This has shown that the current main service provider (BHFT) performs well against national standards, and has strong positive feedback from service users.

2. The financial modelling exercise has indicated that, in the case of Bracknell Forest, entering into a competitive tendering process would entail moving from a block contract to a tariff based system that would cost more.  Specifically, the estimate is that tendering would risk a growth in cost of an estimated £113,000 increase in costs for a similar service model.

3. In addition, work in 2013/4 has enabled the current block contract to be split according to usage (rather than population size) and has removed service costs not attributable to Bracknell Forest Council (related to HIV treatment). This has resulted in the potential for significantly lower costs for Bracknell Forest going forward.  These costs will not be paid by Bracknell Forest Council from April 2014 onwards and negotiations are underway with NHS England in relation to repayment for 2013/14.  

4. The lower costs resulting from this new method of splitting the contract, and from staying with current terms and conditions, will allow for more investment in programmes tailored specifically tailored to the needs of Bracknell Forest. 

5. Initial discussions with BHFT have confirmed that they are prepared to agree a new block contract providing two or more Unitary Authorities wish to proceed on this basis.

To enter into a competitive tendering process.  Aside from the service review and needs analysis showing that the current main service provider (BHFT) performs well, the current financial modelling indicates that a tendering process would entail moving from a block contract to a tariff based system that would cost more.

None