Urgent Palliative Care Medicines Cheshire East

The procurement process, managed by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, pertains to the contract award for emergency palliative care medicines across pharmacy sites in Cheshire East. This process is classified under health services, specifically within the services category, and falls outside the scope of Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as per the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. It was initiated as a tender and has reached the award stage, with the contract commencing on 1st April 2024 and concluding on 31st March 2025.

The procurement method employed was a direct award without the prior publication of a call for competition, addressing the urgent and unpredictable demand for specific medicines. This tender offers business growth opportunities in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, particularly for pharmacies capable of managing stock adequately and providing consistent service. Larger-scale pharmacies like Boots Pharmacy, Clear Pharmacy, and Well Pharmacy, among others, have been identified as suppliers, signifying the preference for established businesses with extensive supply chain capabilities.

The contract includes a fixed annual service fee, incentivising the continuous availability of essential palliative care medicines, presenting a potential revenue stream that benefits pharmacies able to efficiently manage and maintain stock levels despite variable demand and specific storage requirements.