Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Services in Merton

This is an Intended Approach Notice to the follow The Most Suitable Provider Process as defined by the Provider Selection Regime of the Health Care Services Regulations 2023. The London Borough of Merton (The Council) intend to procure a specialist service which will ensure that a full range of contraceptive options are available to women locally above the routine contraception which is part of the GP core service. Long acting reversible contraception (LARC) is a longer lasting, more effective method of contraception and so is very effective in preventing pregnancy for those women who are not looking to have a baby at the time. The LARC methods which will be available under this contract will be:

• Intra Uterine contraceptives (IUC) which include the Copper Intra Uterine Device (IUD) and Mirena/Kyleena®/Jaydess® (LNG-IUS)
• Sub-Dermal Implants (SDI)

Providing LARC services in the community allows timely and convenient access to sexual health services especially in areas of greatest need, with the broader aim of preventing unintended conceptions and terminations. Mandatory requirements:

• Provision of LARC clinics within the London Borough of Merton for contraceptive purposes, offering IUC fitting, checking, monitoring, removal, and post coital IUC for emergency contraception
• Deliver all procedures safely and in line with CoSRH guidance, ensuring timely review and referral for complications such as bleeding, pain, or infection
• Ensure all clinicians are accredited (LoC IUT or equivalent) and maintain ongoing competence, training, safeguarding and clinical compliance
• Offer full patient assessment, counselling, and aftercare, including STI risk assessment, information provision, chlamydia screening for Under 25s, and easy access for problem management and appropriate ongoing signposting where required. • Maintain suitable clinical premises and equipment with required facilities for all procedures and full compliance with infection prevention standards. • Demonstrate strong clinical governance and quality assurance, including NICE compliance, incident reporting, safeguarding, CQC registration, and participation in Council monitoring visits
• Ensure those fitting the LARC shall deliver the minimum number of fits to sustain clinical competency
• Suppliers MUST be at a minimum of Cyber Essentials accreditation level OR accredited under a process of recognised equivalence or better, e.g. Public Sector Network (PSN) or Data Security and Protection Toolkit (NHS Digital) or ISO2700

The Council will consider the 5 Key Criteria mandated under the Most Suitable Provider process to assess the providers identified for delivery of the service and the proposed contracting model will support The Council in ensuring women can access LARC contraception closer to home from trusted specialist healthcare providers without the need for long travel times and waiting times, allowing them to manage their own choices around pregnancy. In applying this process the Council has undertaken appropriate market research to update its knowledge of the relevant providers including understanding their ability to deliver the service to the relevant local population and in connection with existing relevant delivery networks. It is of the view, taking into account likely providers and all relevant information available to it at this time, that it is likely to be able to identify The Most Suitable Providers without running a competitive tendering process.