DHU Healthcare confirmed as preferred provider for out of hours GP services

DHU Healthcare has been awarded a new contract to provide GP out of hours services, following a procurement process led by NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board.

Following the conclusion of a robust procurement process DHU Healthcare has been appointed as preferred provider, beginning June this year. It is initially for two years with the potential to extend for a further two years.

DHU Healthcare is the existing provider of primary care out of hours services, but this is a new contract with a different specification.

The out of hours service is accessed through NHS 111 and it operates every day of the year, 6.30pm to 8am Monday to Friday and 24 hours at weekends and bank holidays.

It provides both face-to-face assessment and treatment of patients either in a residential setting or at an out of hours primary care centre, where a clinician provides advice to patients over the phone and via video consultation (following an initial 111 health advisor assessment).

The service will also:

  • provide a highly responsive service that delivers care as close to home as possible, minimising disruption and inconvenience for patients, carers, and families
  • wherever possible, out of hospital care pathways will be used to ensure that patients are only referred or admitted to an acute hospital where this is the best place for their needs
  • for those people with more serious or life-threatening emergency care needs, the service will ensure they are treated in centres with the right expertise, processes, and facilities to maximise the prospects of survival and a good recovery
  • ensure the needs of mental health and wellbeing are addressed alongside physical health needs at the point of contact to ensure people are supported through the right service in the first instance.

 Stephen Bateman, chief executive of DHU Healthcare, said: “Alongside day-to-day service delivery, this is an opportunity for DHU to work collaboratively, to create healthcare services that, as well as treating ill-health, also consider demographics – addressing health and access inequalities, and new care pathways. 

“Our aim is to further develop responsive urgent and emergency care that is close to where people live and which enables a reduction in non-critical hospital referrals, admissions, and ambulance callouts.  

“We will be looking to drive innovation and service transformation in support of the wider-NHS system.”