Decision Maker: Alison Elliott (Director - Commissioning)
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
To approve the provision of 12 Discharge to
Assess beds at Avebury Nursing Home from the 27/01/2021 to the
31/03/2021 to support customers timely discharge from hospital.
This 9 week contract will have a total cost of
£124,200.00
Please see appendix 1 for details of the contract.
To allow the Strategic Procurement Hub to enter into the resulting
contract, with a total value of £124,200.00 in line with the
Council’s Constitution and Schemes of Delegation, including
the use of esignatures where permitted and considered
appropriate.
There is an urgent need to secure additional
capacity in a care home setting because:
a. The UK is experiencing a pandemic outbreak of the COVID–19
virus.
b. Due to commencement of second wave of COVID 19, which has
entered a serious phase under the second wave due to variant Covid
strains. Although the second wave was anticipated the significant
increase in cases, which continues to rise, could not be
anticipated. The consequences of the increased cases are not
something that could have been predicted.
c. Wiltshire requires capacity to support the discharge of people
from acute and community hospitals. In order to create this
capacity, the council have been requested to commission additional
nursing care provision to facilitate earlier discharge from the
community hospital, to create and maintain flow for the whole
system (acute hospitals, community hospitals and supporting
services)
d. The provision of these services will mean that customers can be
supported in a nursing environment (who have not tested positive
for Covid – 19) following discharge from an NHS Hospital.
This will help support the health system by releasing beds in NHS
hospitals for those in greater need of specialist healthcare
support.
e. A block contract agreement for additional nursing bed capacity
will mean that customers can be discharged quickly, without delay,
compared to alternative commissioning arrangements. This therefore
provides more responsive capacity needed to support such
discharges.
f. The funding for this provision will be provided via the Hospital
Discharge Fund (HDF)
I confirm that in making this decision I have considered the
following in line with Wiltshire Council’s
Constitution:
Key decision requirements: Yes
Views of relevant cabinet member(s), committee chairman, area
board(s): Leader and Cabinet Member have been appraised
Consideration of the area boards and delegated decision checklist
for officers on the issue of when and how to involve local
councillors and area boards in decisions about local services: Not
applicable
Implication of any council policy, initiative, strategy or
procedure: Yes
Consultation in accordance with the council's consultation
strategy: Not applicable
Range of options available: Yes
Staffing, financial and legal implications:Yes
Evidence of due regard having been given to the Public Sector
Equality Duty: Yes. This will principally benefit elderly people
and others from vulnerable groups.
Risk assessment: Yes
Involvement of statutory officers and/or directors: yes
Regional or national guidance from other bodies: Not
applicable
The council’s constitution: Yes
This contract is suitable for execution under the e-signature
process: yes
Given the extreme urgency, no other options
were considered.
Conflict of Interest: Not applicable
Background: As the Director for Commissioning, I am responsible for any matters relating to Domiciliary Care in the County of Wiltshire on behalf of Wiltshire Council. The power to make a decision in respect of this matter is delegated to me pursuant to Wiltshire Council’s Constitution. In any event, pursuant to paragraph 4 of Part 3 Section D, the Directors of Wiltshire Council are empowered to take all necessary decisions in cases of emergency where the Director concerned believes that there is a risk of damage to property, a threat to the health or wellbeing of an individual and/or that the interests of the Council may be compromised if this decision is not otherwise taken. Currently, the UK is experiencing a pandemic outbreak of the COVID–19 virus. A direct impact of this is the necessity for Wiltshire Council to make rapid decisions to secure the health & wellbeing of the Community and to support the wider Health and Social Care System These services are being procured under regulation
Contact: Helen Jones, Director - Procurement and Commissioning Director of Commissioning Email: helen.jones@wiltshire.gov.uk.
Publication date: 24/02/2021
Date of decision: 26/01/2021
Accompanying Documents: