Dublin’s Mater hospital to outsource dermatology procedures
- MMUH seeks a contractor for 150 to 200 dermatology procedures for at least six months.
- MMUH’s tender includes a possible six-month extension.
- The six-month cost is estimated at €214,000 ($239,000), excluding VAT.
- The provider’s histopathology laboratory must hold ISO 15189 accreditation.
DUBLIN, IRELAND — The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) in Dublin plans to outsource some dermatology services after a rise in attendances at its dermatology department.
The hospital is seeking an outside contractor to carry out minor operative and oncological dermatology procedures for at least six months, with a possible six-month extension.
Demand outpacing capacity
The plan was set out in a recent tender notice, the Medical Independent reported on Oct. 27. MMUH stated that there is a need to provide some dermatology services through an outside supplier following the rise in attendances.
Demand for dermatology services nationally continues to grow and outpace capacity, the publication said.
It linked the rise to population demographics, increasing skin cancer rates, and advances in treatment for chronic skin conditions.
Three categories of procedure
Total procedure volumes are expected to be between 150 and 200. The hospital noted that it could seek a further 200% of this volume through the tender process.
The procedures fall into three categories: biopsy, shaves and single excision; excision of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma; and excision with graft or flap reconstruction.
The final category covers “surgical excision of complex or high-risk skin malignancies” that need immediate local tissue rearrangement or free skin grafting.
The cost of the services for six months is estimated at €214,000 ($239,000), excluding VAT.
Strict rules for bidders
The third-party provider must possess and operate clinical facilities that guarantee patient safety, absolute sterility, and compliance with national healthcare standards.
Its facility must be within the MMUH catchment area, so patients can reach it, and operate in line with HIQA standards or equivalent.
The histopathology laboratory the provider uses for tissue processing and reporting must hold active accreditation to the ISO 15189 standard.
Everyone involved in a patient’s care pathway must hold the appropriate Irish statutory qualifications, specialist credentials, and professional indemnity.
What it means for providers
The tender moves part of the hospital’s dermatology surgery to an outside clinic for at least six months, and the volume could grow well beyond the initial estimate.
Clinics weighing healthcare outsourcing bids face strict facility, laboratory and staffing rules. OA’s ultimate guide to outsourcing explains how buyers structure outsourcing contracts like this one.
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