MRI Backlog Reduction and Diagnostic Capacity Support Service

Tender description

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust intends to award a contract for the provision of additional MRI diagnostic capacity to support waiting list reduction and RTT recovery. The service will be delivered from the provider's Whitstable MRI facility at Estuary View and includes patient booking, MRI scanning, diagnostic reporting, administration and associated support services. The Trust has undertaken the Most Suitable Provider Process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 and has identified the provider as the most suitable provider having regard to the key criteria. This notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the Most Suitable Provider Process. Lot 1: East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust intends to award a contract under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 using the Most Suitable Provider Process. The contract is for the provision of additional MRI diagnostic imaging capacity to support waiting list reduction and recovery of referral to treatment performance. Services include patient booking, appointment management, MRI safety screening, MRI scanning, diagnostic reporting, management of cancellations and DNAs, image transfer and associated administration services. The service will be delivered by AM Diagnostic Imaging Ltd. trading as AM Diagnostic Services, part of the Affidea Group, from Whitstable MRI at Estuary View, Kent. This is a new backlog reduction arrangement intended to support the transfer of an initial cohort of approximately 1,000 clinically vetted non-contrast MRI patients, together with any subsequent activity agreed by the parties. The approximate lifetime value of the contract is £250,000 excluding VAT. The initial service period is anticipated to run from contract award until 31 March 2027. This notice constitutes an intention to award a contract under the Most Suitable Provider Process. Additional information: The Trust identified AM Diagnostic Imaging Ltd. trading as AM Diagnostic Services, part of the Affidea Group, as the most suitable provider. The service will be delivered from Whitstable MRI at Estuary View, providing accessible local capacity for East Kent patients. The contracting authority reserves the option to continue the arrangement beyond the initial term subject to operational requirements, performance, funding and agreement between the parties. The provider demonstrated available MRI capacity, the ability to commence mobilisation rapidly, integration with Trust pathways and the capability to support waiting-list reduction objectives. The Trust considered patient accessibility, service continuity, available local capacity, quality and value in reaching its decision. No equivalent local MRI capacity capable of meeting the Trust's requirements within the required mobilisation timescales and patient access requirements was identified.