---
title: "Care at the Chemist & On Demand Access to Palliative Care Medicines - Halton"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-050aa9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050aa9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050aa9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050aa9.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE INTEGRATED CARE BOARD"
published: "2025-04-30"
---

# Care at the Chemist & On Demand Access to Palliative Care Medicines - Halton

Buyer: NHS CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE INTEGRATED CARE BOARD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-050aa9

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050aa9)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050aa9.json)

## Summary

The procurement process, led by the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, involved awarding contracts for the "Care at the Chemist & On Demand Access to Palliative Care Medicines" services in Halton. This initiative falls under the Health Services category and concerns maintaining local pharmacy operations across various sites in Halton, UKD71. The procurement, executed under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, utilised a limited procurement method, awarding contracts directly to suppliers without prior publication. The decision, approved on 12th March 2024, commenced on 1st April 2024 and is set to conclude on 31st March 2025.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the healthcare sector, especially those excelling in pharmaceutical services. It emphasises the provision of minor illness management and palliative care medicines, thus requiring pharmacies capable of managing consultations and dispensing medicines efficiently. SMEs like PCT Healthcare Ltd and larger businesses such as Cookes Healthcare Ltd have been successfully awarded this contract, indicating opportunities for both small and large scale businesses. Engaging in such contracts can help businesses expand their service offerings and increase their participation in community health initiatives, driving growth in both service capacity and regional presence.

## Notice

(CATC) The contracted pharmacy will provide advice and support to people on the management of minor ailments from the agreed formulary, including where necessary, the supply of medicines for the treatment of the minor ailment, for those people who would have otherwise gone to their GP for a prescription. Where appropriate the pharmacy may sell OTC medicines to the person to help manage the minor ailment, as described in the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework, Essential Service- Support for Self-Care. The pharmacy will operate a triage system, including referral to other health and social care professionals, where appropriate. (ODAP) Community Pharmacies participating in this service will hold and maintain an agreed stock of medication for the ODAP service that they are commissioned to deliver. Patients entering the dying phase of a terminal illness often experience new or worsening symptoms including, pain, nausea, vomiting, agitation, increased respiratory tract secretions and dyspnoea. Prompt access via this service to medication to alleviate these symptoms is essential to avoid distress to both patients and their carers and supports the patient's choice to die in their preferred place of care.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB awarded a one year contract via Direct Award A to selected Halton pharmacies across Cheshire and Merseyside. The contract commenced on 1st April 2024 and will expire on the 31st March 2025. A fee of PS2.00 will be paid for each consultation undertaken as part of the service. A fee of PS0.95 will be paid for each item dispensed as part of the service. The Pharmacy will be reimbursed for the medication supplied under the 'CATC' service according to the current dm+d price. Where patients are not exempt from prescription charges and have paid the NHS Levy to the Pharmacy, such sums will be deducted from the relevant month's remuneration. ODAP - an annual retention fee of PS1000 as well as remuneration for medicines. The contract value is approximately PS5160 and is subject to change due to being an activity based contract.

### Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under 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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018161-2025 |
| 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, SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Apr 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Mar 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 | £2,580 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE INTEGRATED CARE BOARD |
| Locality | WARRINGTON |
| Post town | Warrington |
| Postcode | WA1 1QY |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire |
| ITL 3 | TLD61 Warrington |
| Local authority | Warrington |
| Electoral ward | Bewsey and Whitecross |
| Westminster constituency | Warrington South |
| Delivery location | TLD71 East Merseyside |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | COOKES HEALTHCARE LTD (WIDNES LATE NIGHT PHARMACY; PCT HEALTHCARE LTD (PEAK PHARMACY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85100000 - Health services

## Release History

- 30 Apr 2025 at 15:37 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018161-2025

## Notice URLs

- https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.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-050aa9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050aa9.json.