Content

To enter into a
formal agreement with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation
Trust for the provision of ad hoc Occupational Health services,
specifically to support complex and secondary ill-health
assessments.

Reasons for the decision

In accordance with
section 4.2.2 of the Authority’s Procurement Procedure Rules
(Procurement Threshold: £2,500 to £10,000 (Excl. VAT)),
a review and evaluation of two specialist Occupational Health
providers was undertaken. Evidence of this process has been
retained by the department.
 
Following this
evaluation, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has
been recommended for engagement on the basis
of their independence, specialist clinical expertise in
complex ill-health assessments, and overall value for money.
 
The recommendation
supports the Authority’s statutory obligations to safeguard
employee wellbeing and ensure access to appropriate medical advice
in line with employment and pension regulations.

Alternative options considered

As part of the
procurement process, an alternative external Occupational Health
provider was identified and evaluated against key criteria,
including independence, clinical expertise, responsiveness, and
cost. While both providers were capable of
delivering the required service, East Suffolk and North
Essex NHS Foundation Trust was selected due to their enhanced
capacity to manage complex and secondary ill-health assessments,
their NHS governance framework, and best value considerations.