National digital solution for musculoskeletal (MSK) services to improve access, reduce waiting times, and enhance economic productivity across Scotland

Tender description

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are a leading cause of disability in Scotland; a major contributor to sickness absence and economic inactivity and associated with an estimated 400 to 500 million GBP annual economic cost due to work-related ill health. Delays in access to appropriate information and treatment prolong recovery and increase the risk of long-term disability and reduce return-to-work rates. These delays shift demand to other services (e.g. emergency, unscheduled care and GP services) and drive higher-cost interventions (e.g. secondary care and surgery). These factors have implications for patient outcomes and quality of life, as well as workforce productivity and economic activity, and increase pressures on NHS service capacity and downstream costs, particularly secondary care orthopaedic services, as well as placing further burden on primary and unscheduled care services. Approximately 74,000 people are currently waiting for a first MSK appointment in Scotland. Only 48% are seen within the 4-week national standard (target: 90%). Demand continues to exceed capacity, creating a structurally persistent backlog. Access to MSK digital advice, self-referral and support management is fragmented and inconsistent across Scotland. Some NHS Boards (4-5) have some type of digital MSK offer in place, with other individual NHS Boards exploring a range of different options and scale of digital MSK offer. We are interested to know if the market has existing or developing solutions that can: - Provide a ‘Once for Scotland’ national musculoskeletal (MSK) digital solution to support demand management, early intervention and pathway optimisation, including a digital ‘front door’ model to enable self-referral, triage, and directed care pathways. - Include digital tools to support self-management, remote monitoring, and rehabilitation. - Enhance data integration and real-time performance monitoring to support service planning and capacity management, compatible with developing NHS and Scottish Government technological and digital solutions (e.g. MyCare.scot). Specialisms with involvement in MSK services in Scotland: The list below is intended to provide a high-level overview of specialisms involved in delivering care for MSK conditions. It should not be taken as an exhaustive list of all specialisms or services which may be delivered in any one NHS Board at a specific point in time. - Allied Health Professionals (AHP) MSK - Orthopaedics - Rheumatology - Pain Management - Occupational Health / Return to Work - Unscheduled Care/ED/MIU therapists - General Practice This notice is being utilised to assist in understanding the current market. Information gathered through this PMC will be used to inform future decision-making. While it may support consideration of further market engagement, research and development activity, procurement approaches, the Authority makes no commitment to undertake any future activity as a result of this consultation. The Authority has not determined whether any future activity will be undertaken or, if so, where such activity may take place. Should any future research and development, testing or related activities be considered, these may involve one or more organisations and may be undertaken at one or more locations across NHS Scotland. Such activity may involve NHS Innovation Hubs, NHS Boards and other relevant partners, where appropriate. If you are interested in the opportunity, then please record your interest using the appropriate button on Public Contracts Scotland. There is an opportunity to participate in a questionnaire to support the Authority’s understanding of the current market, existing capabilities and potential approaches relevant to the scope of this Preliminary Market Consultation. Following a review of questionnaire responses and expressions of interest, the Authority may, at its discretion, invite some respondents to participate in follow-up engagement discussions via Microsoft Teams. Any such engagement may involve representatives from NHS Scotland, which may include NHS Innovation Hubs, the National Procurement Team and relevant subject matter experts. Any engagement sessions or discussions will be exploratory, non-binding and undertaken for information-gathering purposes. To access the questionnaire template, organisations should select “Record your interest” for this Notice on Public Contracts Scotland. This will enable access to the available documents located in the “Additional Documents” tab under “Additional Notice Options”. Completed questionnaires are to be submitted via the PCS “Postbox” function for this Notice. Guidance on submitting responses via the Postbox can be found in the “Supplier User Guide – Postbox”, available within the “Help” section of the Supplier Area on PCS. Any questions relating to this Preliminary Market Consultation should be submitted using the Questions and Answers function within PCS for this Notice. 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