---
title: "AQP Adult Direct Access MSK Physiotherapy service and First Contact Practitioner (FCP) MSK Assessment Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-047d9b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-047d9b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047d9b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047d9b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS FRIMLEY INTEGRATED CARE BOARD"
published: "2024-09-13"
---

# AQP Adult Direct Access MSK Physiotherapy service and First Contact Practitioner (FCP) MSK Assessment Service

Buyer: NHS FRIMLEY INTEGRATED CARE BOARD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-047d9b

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## Summary

NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) has awarded a contract to Healthshare Ltd for the provision of AQP Adult Direct Access MSK Physiotherapy service and First Contact Practitioner (FCP) MSK Assessment Service. This healthcare service will be delivered in the North-East Hampshire & Farnham locality of Frimley ICB. The service is crucial for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, offering both direct access physiotherapy via GP referrals and community-based assessment without GP referrals. The contract, commencing 1st April 2024, has an initial term of one year with an option to extend for an additional year. The contract's total value is £289,335.07, covering crucial services like clinical assessments, treatment plans, and various therapies, with an expectation for patients to be seen within five days of their initial contact.

This tender represents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in healthcare services, particularly those capable of delivering musculoskeletal (MSK) services. Businesses that offer innovative treatment solutions, high-quality clinical assessments, and patient-focused care will find this contract highly beneficial for growth. The service focus is on reducing health inequalities and improving access, thus appealing to healthcare providers committed to social values and integrated, sustainable services. By partnering with a prominent NHS Board, businesses can enhance their reputation and expand their service offerings within a thriving healthcare network.

## Notice

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission Healthshare Ltd to provide an AQP Adult Direct Access MSK Physiotherapy service and First Contact Practitioner (FCP) MSK Assessment Service, for patients in the North-East Hampshire & Farnham geographical locality of Frimley ICB. AQP Adult Direct Access MSK Physiotherapy service: Patient population covered is North-East Hamsphire and Farnham place. Referrals are via GP. The referring GPs prioritise patients as either routine or urgent. The provider carries out an initial face-to-face clinical assessment with the patient, during which a treatment plan is discussed and agreed. For referrals accepted into the service, a package of care is provided consisting of the necessary treatment required to meet the individual clinical needs of the patient. This may include but is not limited to: advice & education, provision of literature, acupuncture, manual therapy, electrotherapy, exercise programmes, soft tissue mobilisation or back care advice. Follow-ups are provided. Group exercise programmes are permitted as part of the treatment. First Contact Practitioner (FCP) MSK Assessment Clinic: A community-based physiotherapy service benefitting patients with musculoskeletal conditions, who are able to be assessed and treated by a physiotherapist without an initial GP appointment. The service is delivered from participating GP Practice locations within the North-East Hampshire and Farnham locality of Frimley ICB. Patients with musculoskeletal conditions will be seen and assessed by the extended scope practitioner (ESP) who will make good use of pre-existing services such as exercises courses. Patients would expect to be seen within five days, preferably within one to two days of them first contacting the practice. Following assessment the ESP will, as appropriate: * Treat or advise on the day and provide a suitable exercise sheet and management plan * Recommend a locally available exercise course * Refer on to the existing AQP Provider for an appropriate course of treatment. * Perform a joint injection (knee, shoulder, hand or wrist) working under a protocol agreed with Salus. * Refer for imaging (x-ray, ultrasound, MRI) subject to countersignature by a GP * Refer to a secondary care orthopaedic consultant subject to countersignature by a GP * Identify problems that are more likely to have a cause which comes under the heading of rheumatology and request appropriate blood tests using a locally agreed protocol. These cases will be discussed with a GP * Identify any "red flag" symptoms, and discuss with the duty doctor on the day.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission an AQP Adult Direct Access MSK Physiotherapy service and First Contact Practitioner (FCP) MSK Assessment Service. A summary of the purposes and objectives of the services are below. AQP Adult Direct Access MSK Physiotherapy service: Patient population covered is North-East Hamsphire and Farnham place. Referrals are via GP. The referring GPs prioritise patients as either routine or urgent. The provider carries out an initial face-to-face clinical assessment with the patient, during which a treatment plan is discussed and agreed. For referrals accepted into the service, a package of care is provided consisting of the necessary treatment required to meet the individual clinical needs of the patient. This may include but is not limited to: advice & education, provision of literature, acupuncture, manual therapy, electrotherapy, exercise programmes, soft tissue mobilisation or back care advice. Follow-ups are provided. Group exercise programmes are permitted as part of the treatment. First Contact Practitioner (FCP) MSK Assessment Clinic: A community-based physiotherapy service benefitting patients with musculoskeletal conditions, who are able to be assessed and treated by a physiotherapist without an initial GP appointment. The service is delivered from participating GP Practice locations within the North-East Hampshire and Farnham locality of Frimley ICB. Patients with musculoskeletal conditions will be seen and assessed by the extended scope practitioner (ESP) who will make good use of pre-existing services such as exercises courses. Patients would expect to be seen within five days, preferably within one to two days of them first contacting the practice. Following assessment the ESP will, as appropriate: * Treat or advise on the day and provide a suitable exercise sheet and management plan * Recommend a locally available exercise course * Refer on to the existing AQP Provider for an appropriate course of treatment. * Perform a joint injection (knee, shoulder, hand or wrist) working under a protocol agreed with Salus. * Refer for imaging (x-ray, ultrasound, MRI) subject to countersignature by a GP * Refer to a secondary care orthopaedic consultant subject to countersignature by a GP * Identify problems that are more likely to have a cause which comes under the heading of rheumatology and request appropriate blood tests using a locally agreed protocol. These cases will be discussed with a GP * Identify any "red flag" symptoms and discuss with the duty doctor on the day. The Commissioner is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider Healthshare Ltd in accordance with the criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The total value of the contract for the initial one-year contract term is PS144,234.83. The full lifetime contract value (one year + optional one year extension) is PS289,335.07. The one-year contract period will commence on the 1st April 2024. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. Additional information: Evidence that Healthshare have satisfied the existing 23/24 contract to a sufficient standard according to the detail outlined in the contract: they provided all of the required documentation, information and policies for the existing contract. They have followed the contractual service specification, not deviated from Frimley ICB Safeguarding requirements, charged the correct local prices as per the contract, issued invoices correctly in accordance with the Frimley ICB process, complied with Quality reporting requirements, and followed Schedule 6A reporting requirements. They have complied with/not fallen foul of the 23/24 NHS Standard Contract (Shorter Form) Service Conditions, including Service Conditions in relation to the following: service standards, co-operation, information requirements, safeguarding, payment terms and quality requirements. They have also complied with/not fallen foul of the 23/24 Shorter Form General Conditions, including those relating to: liability & indemnity, assignment & sub-contracting, and Information Governance. The new contracting arrangements are based on a rollover of the previous contracting arrangements/schedules which the provider has already satisfied/complied with to a high standard, and so the provider is highly likely to continue to satisfy the new contract to a sufficient standard.

Options: Option to extend by up to 1 year

### Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 25th July 2024. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029415-2024 |
| Notice type | Tender 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 |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Sep 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 11 Jun 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £289,335 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS FRIMLEY INTEGRATED CARE BOARD |
| Locality | WINDSOR |
| Post town | Slough |
| Postcode | SL4 3DP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ15 Berkshire East |
| Local authority | Windsor and Maidenhead |
| Electoral ward | Old Windsor |
| Westminster constituency | Windsor |
| Delivery location | TLJ37 North Hampshire |

## Supplier

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

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85100000 - Health services

## Release History

- 13 Sep 2024 at 13:00 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029415-2024
- 16 Jul 2024 at 09:32 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021759-2024

## Notice URLs

- https://www.frimley.icb.nhs.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-047d9b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047d9b.json.