Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (West Midlands)

Description

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU) on behalf of NHS England – Midlands (West) (referred to as the Commissioner) is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver a Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP). The DESP service is expected to cover the following ICB areas in the West Midlands region: -<br/><br/>1. NHS Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Integrated Care Board (STW ICB) and<br/>2. NHS Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (SSOT ICB).<br/><br/>The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) is designed to reduce the risk of sight loss in people with diabetes by identifying and referring cases of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy early. This procurement aims to ensure equitable access to high-quality screening services across a diverse and geographically widespread population, supporting timely detection and intervention.<br/><br/>The Service is intended to be provided from 1st January 2027 for a period of 7 years, with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for up to a further 2 years (total contract duration, including extensions is 9 years), till 31st December 2036 and will be delivered under a NHS Standard Contract.<br/><br/>Please note the deadline for responses to the Competitive Process is 10:00am on Monday 12th January 2026. If your organisation is interested in this opportunity and would like details on how you can view the tender documentation, please refer to section V1.3 – Additional Information below. Lot 1: NHS England is responsible for commissioning Section 7A Public Health services which include the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP).<br/><br/>The DESP programme/service is designed to detect diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions in people with diabetes. The programme offers eye screenings to diabetic patients aged 12 and above. Screening appointments are typically offered at local venues linked to the patient’s GP practice and HM Prison detained settings.<br/><br/>The goal is to identify any eye problems early on, allowing for timely treatment and reducing the risk of sight loss. If a positive screening result is found, patients are referred to a hospital eye service for further evaluation and management.<br/><br/>NHS England - West Midlands, has reviewed the existing DESP services delivered in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Integrated Care Board (STW ICB) and the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (SSOT ICB). These services cater to an eligible population of 123,243 individuals.<br/><br/>The service will operate across Staffordshire, including Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Tamworth, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands, and Newcastle-under-Lyme and in Shropshire, covering Shrewsbury, Telford and Wrekin, Bridgnorth, Oswestry, and Ludlow.<br/><br/>With the current contract nearing its end, the new procurement aims to achieve the following benefits:<br/>• Improve patient engagement and outcomes<br/>• Enhance stakeholder relationships to foster collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement in the delivery of the service.<br/>• Quality assurance<br/>• More cost-effective use of NHS resources.