Our contracts award process is easy, simple and fair. We have worked closely with the Local Medical Committee and Community Pharmacies Dorset who are supportive of our approach. The fixed price for all contracts has been agreed in advance.
When to apply
The application opened in February 2024 and will remain open for new providers throughout the duration of the contract period.
If you don’t meet all the criteria straight away, you can reapply when you do.
How to apply if you are an existing provider
To apply for the new contract to deliver specific services as an existing CHIS provider, please follow these steps:
- Access the Procontract system by logging into your account using the email address associated with your original setup.
- If the member of staff associated with this email address has left or the email address is no longer in use, you will need to ‘Raise a Case’ with Procontract.
- Under the 'Buying organization' section, select 'Dorset' from the drop-down menu.
- In the note section, please provide an explanation stating that the staff member who initially set up the account has since left the organisation. Please provide the new contact's name and email address. This information will assist in resetting the account.
- There is help available on the Procontract website.
- Once you have accessed your account, you will need to search ‘Opportunities’ for ‘Community Health Improvement Services’.
- All details of sections that need to be completed will be in the procurement document located on the opportunity.
How to apply if you are a new provider
If you are a new CHIS provider and would like to apply for the new contract, please follow these steps:
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Once you have accessed your account, you will need to search ‘Opportunities’ for ‘Community Health Improvement Services’.
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All details of sections that need to be completed, will be in the procurement document located on the opportunity.
Get support
If you aren't sure how to complete the application, take a look at our step-by-step guide.
All clarifications and questions should be raised through the ProContract e-procurement portal.
Services included in the contract
The services listed below are included in this opportunity. Further information for the delivery of these services can be found by clicking on the service name.
Health checks
This is a check designed for residents aged from 40 to 74 years old, with some exceptions. The process, as laid out in government legislation, assesses a range of health factors, including smoking status, family history of coronary heart disease, body mass index, cholesterol level, blood pressure, physical activity levels, cardiovascular risk score, and alcohol consumption.
Emergency hormonal contraception (EHC)
Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if the contraception you have used has failed – for example, a condom has split or you have missed a pill. EHC affects the release of an egg, and therefore can prevent pregnancy.
Long acting reversible contraception (LARC)
LARC refers to contraceptive methods that require administration less than once per cycle or month, specifically: copper intrauterine devices; progestogen-only intrauterine systems; progestogen-only injectable contraceptives; progestogen-only subdermal implants.
Needle exchange
Needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) supply needles and syringes for people who inject drugs. They often supply other equipment used to prepare and take drugs (for example, filters, mixing containers and sterile water). The main aim of needle and syringe programmes is to reduce the transmission of blood-borne viruses and other infections caused by sharing injecting equipment. They also reduce the risk to the public from discarded needles by providing the opportunity for disposal of used sharps.
Supervised consumption
Supervised consumption requires the pharmacist to supervise the consumption of prescribed medicines at the point of dispensing, ensuring that the dose has been administered to the patient. This may be prescribed to support people who are dependent on substances with the aim of reducing risks to the individual and the wider community.
Smoking cessation
The focus of the smoking cessation service is to offer behavioural support and advice to clients who want to stop smoking. It also includes the provision of nicotine replacement therapy, which provides a low level of nicotine, without the poisonous chemicals present in tobacco smoke, reducing harm and reducing unpleasant withdrawal effects.