Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment
Framework Description
The East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub's Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment framework gives commissioners access to independent-sector clinical capacity across nine lots: eight specialisms plus managed services. It started on 1 February 2026 and runs to 31 January 2029, with an option to extend by 12 months. It is governed under the Provider Selection Regime and replaces the hub's earlier Dermatology Services framework.
Context & Use Case
NHS England, integrated care boards, NHS trusts and foundation trusts, and local and combined authorities use it to reduce waiting lists and meet cancer and faster-diagnosis standards. Buyers can call off a single specialty clinic or a wider waiting-list recovery programme through the managed services lot, using direct award or further competition.
Scope of Services
Lots 1–2: Dermatology; oral and maxillofacial surgery Lots 3–5: Audiology; ophthalmology; ear, nose and throat Lots 6–8: Gastroenterology; urology; endoscopy Lot 9: Managed services across specialisms Triage, assessment, diagnosis, treatment pathways and minor surgery Face-to-face, telehealth and consultant-led clinics
Lots
Lot 1: Dermatology; Lot 2: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Lot 3: Audiology; Lot 4: Ophthalmology; Lot 5: Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT); Lot 6: Gastroenterology; Lot 7: Urology; Lot 8: Endoscopy; Lot 9: Managed Services
Who Can Apply
Suits independent-sector clinical providers and managed service suppliers delivering regulated clinical services in one or more of the specialisms, with strong clinical and information governance. Applications for this framework are closed, so new providers will need to wait for a re-tender, likely around 31 January 2029 or, if extended, 31 January 2030.
Buyer Benefits
Trusts get extra clinical capacity in high-demand specialties through a route that already complies with the Provider Selection Regime, which saves time when waiting lists are growing. Combining specialisms in one arrangement means consistent evaluation standards and less procurement work for each additional service.
Next Steps
Appointed providers should prepare for further competitions with capacity plans, clinical outcomes, patient experience data and mobilisation timelines. Others should watch the hub's framework pages at eoecph.nhs.uk and Find a Tender for the re-tender, and build evidence of delivering NHS-funded activity in their specialisms.
How Athena Can Help
Clinical service competitions are decided on capacity, quality and mobilisation speed. Athena's clinical bid writing support builds responses on outcomes and mobilisation, with win themes and competitor scoring for each call-off.
For providers preparing for the re-tender, our framework application help selects the specialisms to bid for and prepares the submission, and our Provider Selection Regime bids support covers standalone NHS clinical service procurements, including social value answers and pricing per episode of care.
