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Orthopaedic Procedures

NHS Borders

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

17 Aug 2026 at 12:16

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Borders procured orthopaedic services from Spire Healthcare Newcastle, trading as Spire Ltd, to support waiting-time recovery. The requirement covers approximately 50 orthopaedic procedures, providing additional treatment capacity for patients and helping reduce elective-care waiting-list pressures. The service is delivered at Spire Newcastle Hospital, while NHS Borders is the public healthcare buyer based at Borders General Hospital in Melrose. This is a healthcare services requirement rather than a supply of equipment or construction works. The arrangement was intended as a temporary intervention while NHS Borders considered longer-term service and procurement requirements, and was limited to the activity needed to address immediate capacity constraints.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. NHS Borders used a limited procedure without prior publication of a call for competition, making a direct award to Spire Ltd. The award was made on 17 August 2026 and is for a seven-month contract covering approximately 50 procedures. The awarded contract value is £250,000 excluding any different tax treatment stated in the underlying terms. NHS Borders selected Spire Newcastle Hospital because it considered the provider able to mobilise within the required timescale and meet the Board’s clinical and operational requirements. The contract is active. The procurement was a single lot and was evaluated against the stated need for timely, safe delivery of the orthopaedic activity.

For suppliers tracking NHS Borders’ orthopaedic capacity requirements, this award demonstrates demand for short-term outsourced elective treatment when internal capacity cannot deliver the necessary activity quickly enough. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need access to suitable clinical infrastructure, established governance arrangements, specialist orthopaedic expertise and sufficient operational capacity to undertake procedures safely and effectively. The ability to mobilise rapidly and provide additional patient capacity is central to the buyer’s stated rationale, alongside reliable delivery against clinical requirements and waiting-time recovery objectives. Providers should therefore be able to demonstrate safe service delivery, effective operational coordination with NHS Borders and the practical capacity to handle a defined volume of procedures at a hospital facility in Newcastle.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Orthopaedic Procedures

Notice Description

NHS Borders intends to award a short-term contract to Spire Healthcare Newcastle for the provision of approximately 50 orthopaedic procedures to support waiting time recovery. The award is intended as an interim measure to address immediate capacity pressures and reduce patient waiting times while longer-term options are considered. NHS Borders considers that the proposed provider is uniquely positioned to mobilise the service within the required timescales and meet the clinical and operational requirements of the Board.

Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Borders intends to award a short-term contract to Spire Healthcare Newcastle for the provision of approximately 50 orthopaedic procedures to support waiting time recovery. The award is intended as an interim measure to address immediate capacity pressures and reduce patient waiting times while longer-term options are considered. NHS Borders considers that the proposed provider is uniquely positioned to mobilise the service within the required timescales and meet the clinical and operational requirements of the Board.

Procurement Information

NHS Borders intends to award a short-term contract to Spire Healthcare Limited (Spire Newcastle Hospital) for the provision of approximately 50 orthopaedic procedures over a seven-month period. NHS Borders is currently experiencing capacity constraints within orthopaedic services, resulting in increased patient waiting times and challenges in delivering elective recovery activity. Additional treatment capacity has been identified as necessary to support timely patient access to care and reduce waiting list pressures. The proposed contract is a temporary and time-limited arrangement intended to address an immediate service need whilst the Board reviews longer-term service and procurement requirements. It is not intended to establish an ongoing outsourced service. NHS Borders considered a range of options, including delivery through existing internal capacity and undertaking a competitive procurement exercise. Existing capacity is insufficient to deliver the required volume of procedures within the timescales necessary to support waiting time recovery objectives. Whilst a competitive process would ordinarily be undertaken, the timescales associated with such an exercise would delay implementation of the additional capacity required. Following an assessment of available options, Spire Newcastle Hospital was identified as a provider capable of delivering the required activity within the required timeframe. The provider has the necessary clinical infrastructure, governance arrangements, specialist expertise and operational capacity to undertake the procedures safely and effectively. NHS Borders considers the proposed direct award to be a proportionate response to an immediate capacity challenge and necessary to support continuity of patient care and reduce the risk of further delays to treatment. The requirement is limited to the minimum scope and duration necessary to address the immediate need.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e588
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078073-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85121283 - Orthopaedic services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS Borders
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MELROSE
Postcode
TD6 9BS
Postcode Area
Galashiels
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM9 Southern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM91 Scottish Borders
Delivery Location
TLM91 Scottish Borders
Local Authority
Scottish Borders
Electoral Ward
Leaderdale and Melrose
Westminster Constituency
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Spire Ltd

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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