The supply of Pharmacy Logistics service provision that spans the transportation and distribution of pharmaceutical medicines and devices requiring special handling to NHS Trust customers throughout the United Kingdom, this is mainly across the South West region but will include deliveries outside of the region:
• Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
• Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• North Bristol NHS Trust
• University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust
• Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
To supply Blood Collection systems used for venepuncture for Devon and Wiltshire.
It is the intention of the Trusts to novate the award of this contract into the Pathology Managed Laboratory Service contracts in this region.
This procurement is being managed by the Peninsula Purchasing & Supply Alliance on behalf of Devon and Wiltshire and the following organisations:
• University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
• Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (Eastern & Northern)
• Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
• Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Provision of end-to-end digital histopathology pathway service with integrated AI diagnostic support and NHS reporting
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is releasing this Intended Approach Notice as per the NHS Provider Selection Regime (PSR) using the Most Suitable Provider route.
As per schedule 5 under Regulation 10(3), please see below the required information.
1. University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is intending to follow the Most Suitable Provider Process to award a contract.
2. The contract title - Provision of end-to-end digital histopathology pathway service with integrated AI diagnostic support and NHS reporting
The contract reference - C407455
3. Provision of fully integrated cancer diagnostic services, focused on the prostate cancer pathway – from biopsy room, digital request and logistics through controlled laboratory processing, AI-supported diagnosis, and visual structured reporting - delivered within guaranteed timeframes through a unified digital ecosystem under NHS-led clinical responsibility. The service enables structured data capture to support ongoing hospital process improvement, research, and performance monitoring. This procurement will be conducted under the NHS Provider Selection Regime (PSR) using the Most Suitable Provider route.
CPV Code - 85111800
4. The key decision makers involved in this procurement process are Rob Archer (Cellular & Anatomical Pathology Operations Manager), Mark Austin (Category Manager for Clinical Support)
Proactive Identification Care & Transfer (PICT) at UHP
The service to be implemented by Marie Curie in collaboration with UHP will enhance end-of-life care and alleviate pressure on hospital resources and provide better outcomes for patients at end of life. The service will expediate the improvement in end-of-life care with a particular emphasis on identification of patients that are nearing the end of their lives. This should result in helping establish people’s preferences and support earlier discharge or transfer to another care setting. In line with patient’s and family’s wishes.<br/>In coming to this decision the Trust considered the 5 key criteria above. These criteria are not weighted as they are equally important for this service. They clearly meet and in some elements exceed the requirements of this service.<br/><br/>The Key Criteria measures were<br/>1. Value For Money<br/>2. Quality & Innovation<br/>3. Integration, Collaboration & Service Sustainability<br/>4. Social Value<br/>5. Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice<br/><br/>Decision makers in this process included Director of Integrated Care, Partnerships and strategy. The Trust End of Life Lead Manager, Transformation Team, Procurement, Finance, Trust Management Board Executives and many more internal Stakeholders.<br/><br/>There were no conflict of interests or potential conflicts of interest in the decision-making process.
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) is exploring options for the development of a new Pharmacy Aseptic Services suite. The proposed facility is intended to provide a comprehensive range of aseptic services including:
Chemotherapy preparation
Centralised Intravenous Additive Services (CIVAS)
Outpatient Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT/OPIT) support
Clinical Trials aseptic support
Future-proofed capacity for expected demand growth
As part of this appraisal, the Trust is considering a range of potential delivery and funding models, including the possibility of forming a Joint Venture or other partnership with the private sector.
The purpose of this soft market testing exercise is to understand:
The level of interest from suppliers and investors in partnering with the Trust
The range of commercial, technical, and operational models available in the market
Key risks, dependencies, and proposed approaches
Potential timelines and delivery routes
Options that best support service continuity during construction
This exercise is not a call for competition, nor part of a formal procurement process. Responses received will help shape the Trust’s strategy and any potential future procurement.