---
title: "Minimum standards for patients and carers on an NHS waiting list."
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-bfe87335-99ca-4632-baa0-25349eb1e651"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-bfe87335-99ca-4632-baa0-25349eb1e651"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bfe87335-99ca-4632-baa0-25349eb1e651.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-bfe87335-99ca-4632-baa0-25349eb1e651.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS MIDLANDS & LANCASHIRE COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT"
published: "2026-04-23"
---

# Minimum standards for patients and carers on an NHS waiting list.

Buyer: NHS MIDLANDS & LANCASHIRE COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-bfe87335-99ca-4632-baa0-25349eb1e651

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## Summary

The NHS Midlands & Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit has completed a public procurement process for a project entitled "Minimum standards for patients and carers on an NHS waiting list". This initiative falls under the services category, specifically project management consultancy services (CPV 72224000), with the awarded contract worth £93,441. The procurement method adopted was selective, involving a call-off from a framework agreement. Although the procurement stage indicated is "award", the consulting firm Ipsos Ltd has been appointed as the supplier. The project will be underway in England, starting on 1st October 2025 and concluding on 31st January 2026. The tender process wrapped up on 22nd September 2025, and the award was finalised on 26th September 2025.

This contract offers promising growth opportunities particularly for SMEs, given the project's detailed focus on patient and carer engagement within the NHS framework. Businesses excelling in qualitative data analysis, patient management, and health service consultancy would find this project suitable, given its requirements for conducting interviews, thematic analysis, and delivering insights reports. Ipsos Ltd, a proficient SME, identified as the supplier, sets an example of the type of organisation that is well-equipped to handle such contracts. Firms specialising in healthcare consultancy and project management have scope to expand their operations by engaging in similar tenders, developing strategic treatments, while potentially strengthening their track record in the healthcare procurement sector.

## Notice

Conduct activities for the engagement (Phase 1) of the 'Minimum standards for patients and carers on an NHS waiting list' project. These include: liaising with the Strategy Unit and the client (NHS England); managing recruitment of patients and carers (including young people and their parents) who have been on/ are currently on an NHS waiting list against agreed sampling criteria; scheduling all interviews; conducting approx. 55 of 125 interviews; providing weekly updates on recruitment, scheduling and interview progress (and flagging any risks); holding a fieldwork team briefing for topic guide orientation and analysis sessions; transcribing audio recordings of interviews; conducting thematic analysis of all interview transcripts (conducted by the SU and Ipsos); providing a written insights report of findings from interviews with patients and carers (including young people and their parents).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/876502b1-85a8-4db3-b4aa-8d802419a5ce |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 22 Sep 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 25 Sep 2025 |
| Contract period | 30 Sep 2025 - 31 Jan 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £93,441 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £93,441 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS MIDLANDS & LANCASHIRE COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT |
| Locality | STOKE-ON-TRENT |
| Post town | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Postcode | ST1 2QB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent |
| Local authority | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Electoral ward | Birches Head & Northwood |
| Westminster constituency | Stoke-on-Trent Central |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | IPSOS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 72224000 - Project management consultancy services

## Release History

- 23 Apr 2026 at 10:10 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/876502b1-85a8-4db3-b4aa-8d802419a5ce

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/876502b1-85a8-4db3-b4aa-8d802419a5ce
  23rd April 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/ac2a0244-891e-483b-8d67-7795f18428f5

## Provenance

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