NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has announced today that a new service provider is set to deliver Community Wheelchair Services for patients requiring the assessment, provision, maintenance and repair of high quality wheelchairs and associated equipment, across North Yorkshire.

The project to commission a new Community Wheelchair service started in November 2015 when the local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) joined forces to call for the opinions of local wheelchair users and clinicians. The information collected from conversations, surveys and drop-in sessions was used to form the basis of developing the new service. 

A formal procurement process to secure a new service provider for Community Wheelchair services was then undertaken. The provider has been confirmed as NRS Healthcare.Commissioners look forward to working with the new provider throughout the mobilisation of the new service that launches on the 1 December 2016.

A spokesperson for NRS Healthcare said: “NRS Healthcare and our specialist partner Blatchford Clinical Services are delighted to have been awarded the Wheelchair Assessment and Prescription Service for North Yorkshire.

“Service Users are at the heart of everything we do and our services are designed to make sure that every person we support is able to get the advice and equipment they need quickly and easily.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the CCGs and local communities to provide a high quality service.”

Rachel Potts, the CCG’s Chief Operating Officer said: “Involving patients and service users to help shape local services features greatly in our work."

“I am delighted that this approach to collect views has helped to coproduce the specification for another important service that we commission for our community.”

Ends

Notes to editors

The Clinical Commissioning Groups involved in the procurement are:

NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG
NHS Harrogate and Rural District CCG.
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG
NHS Vale of York CCG

Healthwatch York is working with NHS Vale of York CCG to support the involvement of people using community equipment and wheelchair services. For anyone interested in being part of the Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services Forum, the next meeting is on 19 September at West Offices, 11am to 1pm. For further details contact Carole.Money@yorkcvs.org.uk or call 01904 621 133.

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