St Helens Place - Care at the Chemist Service

The public procurement process described involves NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, the buying organisation, issuing a contract under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) for the "Care at the Chemist Service" in St Helens. This service, classified under health services, is intended to enhance accessibility and offer an alternative to GP visits for minor ailments. The contract, running from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025, with a total value of £146,880, was awarded directly without prior publication under limited procurement methods as per the Health Care Services Regulations 2023.

The planning, approval, and award stages were completed by the 12th of March 2024, with the contract recently reaching the active award stage. This tender presents significant growth opportunities for large-scale healthcare service providers, particularly those in the community pharmacy sector. Businesses within Cheshire and Merseyside with capabilities in providing patient consultations and over-the-counter services are well-suited to compete for such contracts, tapping into a defined market of healthcare services outside traditional GP practices.

The involvement of prominent suppliers like Boots The Chemist Ltd and Asda Stores Ltd highlights the scope for substantial business growth within the health services market in the UK, primarily through innovative patient care solutions.