Provision of Carpal Tunnel Services in North East Essex

About

Attain awarded a contract to Tollgate Clinic Limited for the provision of Carpal Tunnel Services in North East Essex.

The service was commissioned by NHS North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to establish a single community provider.

The provider receives all North East Essex referrals into this community service, operating under a community fixed price tariff (non Payment by Results).

Referrals are made by North East Essex GP Practices, the community physiotherapy service, and the Clinical Assessment Service.

GP practices conduct initial assessment and provide first-stage conservative treatment (wrist brace where appropriate), with clinically competent practices administering steroid injections as second-stage treatment.

Practices not able to administer injections refer patients to this community service for one course of treatment only, unless exceptional circumstances such as surgery not being an option.

Following an injection, patients are discharged back to their GP.

If conservative treatment is ineffective, the GP may make a separate referral for carpal surgery.

Where assessment identifies more complex needs requiring referral to an acute provider, this service makes the referral.

The CCG sought to commission a consistent, timely, high quality, flexible and accessible service focused on patient outcomes.

The contract value is £2,890,448.