Agenda item

[Report of the Director of Adults and Health. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health.]

Extension and variation of the existing contract for Integrated Health Improvement/Wellness Service, named One You Haringey.

The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health introduced the report which sought Cabinet approval for an extension and variation of the existing contract for the integrated health improvement/wellness service, named One You Haringey, in accordance with Contract Standing Order 10.02.1 b.

The Cabinet Member outlined that the ‘One You’ Haringey service assists residents to achieve this by supporting them to make healthier behaviour choices. The current Covid-19 pandemic had highlighted the impact of behavioural choices on health. Reducing alcohol intake, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking are associated with reductions in complications from Covid-19. For example, a Public Health England (PHE) report in 2020, found that there is potentially a higher risk of COVID-19 related death with increasing BMI and even where studies have adjusted for confounding factors such as age, sex, measures of socio-economic status (SES), ethnicity and co-morbidities, the relationship between excess weight and COVID-19 risk has persisted . Smokers in addition, had an increased risk of contracting respiratory infections (such as Covid-19) and due to an increased likelihood of underlying smoking conditions, can experience more severe outcomes from Covid-19.

RESOLVED

To approve the implementation of Contract Standing Order 10.02.1 (b)  and authorise the  variation and extension of contract for the provision of an integrated health improvement/wellness service (One You Haringey) to Reed Wellbeing Ltd for a period of 18 months from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2022.

The contract value over the 18-month extension of the contract is £750, 000 (The total value over the life of the contract is therefore £3,250,000)

Reasons for decision

The existing service, which was awarded by Cabinet in 2015, following an open tender process will expire in March 2021. The Contractor Reed Wellbeing Ltd is fully meeting the expectations of the contract. During the pandemic, the provider has worked with the council to find new ways to deliver services to ensure that residents continue to access health improvement services despite lockdown and with social distancing.

The procurement process for this contract was due to commence during the financial year of 2020-21 but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the market is currently unstable and arguably if a new provider were appointed they would face barriers to establishing a new service, potentially jeopardising work being undertaken to improve the health of our most vulnerable residents.

 Alternative options considered

Do Nothing - The Council could choose to no longer commission this service. This is seen to be damaging to residents especially those from economically disadvantaged groups, for the following reasons: this is an extensive, specialist programme which reaches inactive residents living in the most deprived areas of the borough. This includes people whose proclivity to develop a range of long-term conditions is exacerbated by their smoking, weight, and inactivity patterns. There is a particular risk to the Council’s delivery of the Borough Plan, in regard to achieving its desired outcome of increasing the healthy life expectancy of residents, enabling them to live healthy and fulfilling lives, and staying active. To achieve the Borough Plan objectives, we need to ensure that those most in need of prevention services are able to access help to reduce alcohol consumption, quit smoking, manage their weight, and increase their physical activity levels. Reduction in the risk of development of long-term conditions by increasing exercise and reducing smoking and obesity levels are key components of keeping residents healthy and connected to their community. There is a reputational risk as GPs are the major referrers to this service and are likely to raise its loss with our partners, North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group (NCL CCG).

The Council could recommission this service – going to market for the current service was explored and rejected. Being aware of the critical nature of the work that One You Haringey have been commissioned to deliver they have invested significant time in establishing strong working relationships with various departments in the local NHS Trusts, GP surgeries – where they use surgery facilities to deliver clinics and are working with other local delivery partners such as physical activity session providers, the Bridge Renewal Trust and the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. One You Haringey have improved the diversity of clients who use the service with forty seven percent of clients identifying their ethnicity as Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and non-white. Moreover, attempting to go out to tender during the pandemic would not be the Councils interest as many suppliers are already facing difficulties surviving in the market, and the ability to respond successfully to a tender would be impaired, as well as, trying to establish a new service in a socially distanced market means it would more highly unlikely they would be able to meet service targets in the contract time frame given the period it would take to mobilise and establish service provision. Further, disrupting progress at this point to start again with a provider with no knowledge, skills or history of working within the borough could have an extremely detrimental impact on both progress and the reach of the service to engage with diverse communities in Haringey.