Decision details

To seek approval to extend the current contract term for a further two years and to recommend a variation to the contract value.

It has been agreed to extend the Countywide Dementia Support and Advice Service contract for a period of 24 months with additional funding of £60,000 per annum

Continuation of the existing contract gives stability to the market, enabling a specialist service to work in an integrated way across the health and care sector.

The service is critical for the delivery of the North Yorkshire Dementia Strategy “Bring Me Sunshine – Living Well with Dementia in North Yorkshire” and achieving improved health and social care outcomes for individuals, providing a person centred, proactive support and advice service to any resident of North Yorkshire regardless of age, who have a formal diagnosis of dementia, or who is suspected to be living with dementia, as well as supporting their carers, family members and loved ones.

Service demand is far outstripping supply, particularly following on from the Covid-19 pandemic, with more complex referrals from individuals living with dementia or those who care for them. The waiting list in achieving a formal diagnosis is at an all-time high which also contributes to higher levels of activity for this service

The provider works with NHS England and other locality health colleagues to enable earlier diagnosis,
particularly for those with early onset dementia, who may be lost within the system as they move into older people’s services.

Not to continue with the current contract would result in the inability to meet our strategic requirements as outlined in the “Bring Me Sunshine – Living well with Dementia in North Yorkshire” Strategy.

Due to the nature and specialism of the service providers with expertise in this field within the market are limited and this could lead to a failed procurement exercise. Whilst the current contract is working so successfully and continues to provide value for money there is no evidence to suggest that a new procurement would be beneficial.

A new procurement would also require the current provider to outlay unnecessary resources and funding to submit a tender which would detract from the services delivered.