Enhanced Services - Optometry

The NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board has awarded a contract for enhanced optometry services, specifically targeting Glaucoma Repeat Readings, OHT and suspected COAG/progression monitoring, and Post-Operative Cataract Follow-up. This initiative aims to alleviate the burden on Hospital Eye Services by offering continued care within local optometry practices across Derby and Derbyshire. The contract, governed by the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, does not fall under the Procurement Act Regulations 2023 and was formalised on 1st November 2025 for three years, with an optional two-year extension available.

The procurement method was a Direct Award Process C, explicitly chosen without the need for prior publication of a call for competition, as it begins a contract with an approximate value of £254,000. The primary criterion was the existing provider's ability to meet the service standards, facilitated by the Primary Eyecare Services of Manchester. This contract offers companies, particularly SMEs involved in healthcare services, an opportunity to engage with a substantial public sector opportunity that aims to enhance patient access and care quality.

The Derby & Derbyshire initiative encourages the participation of optometry practices and related healthcare providers who can deliver innovative and quality services that align with NHS objectives. Service providers capable of meeting the tender requirements, ensuring service sustainability, and contributing to social value integration and access improvement, stand to benefit from this contract. The strategic focus on local community care underscores the opportunity for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to secure an influential role in delivering public health services while aiding business growth.