National Framework Agreement for the Provision of Autism andADHD Assessment Services

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust wishes to establish a Framework Agreement under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (and as amended) (the PSR) for use by all Relevant Authorities (and any future successors to these organisations).

"Relevant authority" is defined in section 12ZB(7) of the National Health Service Act 2006. It means a combined authority, an integrated care board, a local authority in England, NHS England, an NHS foundation trust or an NHS trust established under section 25 of that Act.

For the avoidance of doubt, any successor bodies of any of the above entities shall be entitled to place Orders and shall be deemed Relevant Authorities for the purposes of this Framework Agreement.

Demand for autism and ADHD assessment and diagnosis services has increased significantly in recent years, with waiting lists in some areas now years long.

In order to address this backlog, many NHS organisations are outsourcing portions of this service to increase capacity, either on a short- or long-term basis. This Framework Agreement will provide a quick and compliant route to contract for these services.

The overall aim of the Framework Agreement is to provide an assessment and diagnosis service for autism, ADHD and/or combined autism and ADHD for both adult and paediatric patients.

For patients on the ADHD or combined pathway this may also include medication prescribing, titration and review.

The term of the framework agreement will be 4 years.