URL: https://councillors.knowsley.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=7750

Decision Maker: Executive Director Resources (Stephan Van Arendsen) and Assistant Executive Director Public Health (Sarah McNulty)

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: The purpose of the report is, in accordance with regulations 6(3) and 7 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 to:   (i)       direct award the hospital based intermediate stop smoking service contract under Direct Award Process A, to Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as the existing provider for the service and the only provider capable of providing the service; and   (ii)       seek approval to issue an award notice.   The justification for this decision, as required by relevant regulations, is that the Council is satisfied that:   Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital is the existing provider of the healthcare services to which the proposed contracting arrangements relate; the relevant authority is satisfied that the healthcare services to which the proposed contracting arrangements relate can only be provided by the existing provider (or group of providers) due to the nature of the healthcare services; and the type of service means there is no realistic alternative to the current provider.

Content: The purpose of the report is, in accordance with regulations 6(3) and 7 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 to:   (i)       direct award the hospital based intermediate stop smoking service contract under Direct Award Process A, to Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as the existing provider for the service and the only provider capable of providing the service; and   (ii)       seek approval to issue an award notice.   The justification for this decision, as required by relevant regulations, is that the Council is satisfied that:   Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital is the existing provider of the healthcare services to which the proposed contracting arrangements relate; the relevant authority is satisfied that the healthcare services to which the proposed contracting arrangements relate can only be provided by the existing provider (or group of providers) due to the nature of the healthcare services; and the type of service means there is no realistic alternative to the current provider. (i)    That, in accordance with regulation 6(3) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023,a contract for the delivery of hospital based intermediate stop smoking service be awarded without competition (under Direct Award Process A);   (ii)   That, in accordance with regulation 7 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, an award notice, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be issued for publication on the UK e-notification service, indicating the Council’s award of the contract to Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for the period 31 October 2025 to 30 October 2028 with the option to extend the contract up to a maximum of two 12 month periods (until 30 October 2030); and   That the Procurement Team be authorised to issue the relevant contract award documentation.   Do Nothing: This option was considered and rejected because the current contract is due to expire and therefore doing nothing would leave Knowsley without an Intermediate Stop Smoking Service within Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital. The consequences of this would include poorer health outcomes for residents, increased pressure on primary, secondary, and acute care services. It also risks continuity of the service supporting delivery of The All Together Smokefree Knowsley Strategic Action Plan 2024-2027 and access to its associated supplementary funding.    Deliver in house: This option was considered and rejected due to the service needing to be delivered in the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and the expertise, skills and resources needed to deliver a Care Quality Commission compliant service, which could not be undertaken within Council’s existing resources.   Alternative Provider Selection Regime Processes: Direct Award Process B – This was rejected as due to the nature of this service, there is no choice but to follow Direct Award Process A. In addition, hospital-based stop intermediate stop smoking service is limited to just one provider.   Direct Award Process C - This was rejected as due to the nature of this service, there is no choice but to follow Direct Award Process A. In addition, hospital-based stop intermediate stop smoking service is limited to just one provider.   Most Suitable Provider Process - This was rejected as due to the nature of this service, there is no choice but to follow Direct Award Process A. In addition, hospital-based stop intermediate stop smoking service pharmacy provision is limited to just one provider.   Competitive Process –The option to recommission this service and go out for quotation / tender was rejected as due to the nature of this service, there is no choice but to follow Direct Award Process A. Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital are sole providers in a unique position due to the nature of this specific service. This service is for respiratory and cardiac patients in receipt of Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital services.

Date of Decision: October 23, 2025