Hammersmith and Fulham Council is set to recommission public health nursing and maternity services, aiming to provide high-quality care starting in 2027. The council is engaging with residents, stakeholders, current service users, and healthcare professionals throughout the recommissioning process to gather feedback and inform the new service model.
The decision was made at a Cabinet meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, where members approved a procurement strategy for the recommissioning of 0-19(25) Public Health Nursing Services and a new Maternity in the Community Service. The goal is to ensure the delivery of high-quality services beginning January 1, 2027.
Councillor Alex Sanderson, Deputy Leader, introduced the report, emphasising the importance of these services. The Cabinet agreed to commence a competitive procurement exercise for the redesigned services. The contract award approval was delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health.
The services are required by law to support all children in the borough, regardless of established need, and necessitate the procurement of services with clearly established clinical governance, safeguarding, and health metric reporting structures. The 0-19(25) Public Health Nursing and Maternity in the Community Services Procurement Strategy report outlines the legal requirements for these services under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the importance of early intervention.
According to the 0-1925 Public Health Nursing and Maternity in the Community Services Procurement Strategy report, the contract award notice is expected in January 2026. The estimated timetable for the procurement process is as follows:
| Action: | Date: |
|---|---|
| Key Decision Entry (Strategy) | nd May 202510 2 |
| Contracts Assurance Board (Strategy) | th May 7 2025 |
| Cabinet Member approval (Strategy) | 19th May 2025 |
| Political Cabinet Approval (Strategy) | 16th June 2025 |
| Cabinet Approval (Strategy) | 14th July 2025 |
| Find a Tender Service Notice | September 2025 |
| Closing date for Clarifications | October 2025 |
| Closing Date for Procurement Responses | November 2025 |
| Evaluation of Procurement Responses | November 2025 |
| Moderation | November 2025 |
| Award Recommendation Report | December 2025 |
| CAB (Award) | December 2025 |
| SLT/Cabinet Member (Award) | December 2025 |
| Key Decision Entry (Award) | January 2026 |
| Assessment Summaries | January 2026 |
| Contract Award Notice January 2026 | |
| Contract Engrossment | May 2026 |
| Contract Detail Notice | May 2026 |
| Contract Mobilisation and Implementation | June 2026 – December 2026 |
| Contract Commencement Date | 1 January 2027 |
To ensure a smooth transition between the current and new service providers, a six-month mobilisation period has been factored into the contracts, according to the 0-1925 Public Health Nursing and Maternity in the Community Services Procurement Strategy report.
The 0-1925 Public Health Nursing and Maternity in the Community Services Procurement Strategy report also specifies that local authorities have mandated responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to ensure the delivery of health visiting and school nursing services to the whole child population.
The council has undertaken formal consultation in respect of these services in accordance with the legal obligations. A range of stakeholders’ views have been and are currently being sought. Their feedback has been central to the development the service model. The new service model is being developed in the light of:
- Findings/themes emerging from the 0–19(25) public health nursing services review via an online consultation and further face to face and online consultation sessions.
- Support from the internal 0–19(25) public health nursing services steering group.
- Engagement through workshops, utilising the Family Hubs and the
Family Voices
group, the Youth Council, talking to young people at Summer In The City, SENCO Forum, Integrated Neighborhood Steering Group and other professional consultations with teachers and headteachers. - Work with the Institute of Health Visiting.
- National guidance.
- Learning from other London Boroughs and other areas in the country.
