Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Out-of-Area Placement Services

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust is awarding a direct contract for specialised psychiatric intensive care services for a named patient requiring acute mental health inpatient care. Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) are specialist wards providing comprehensive inpatient assessment and treatment for individuals experiencing severe, acute mental health disturbances. This is a continuation of previous spot purchasing arrangements, now being placed directly by the Trust rather than through the ICB. The contract is valued at £1,035.00 per week for a nominal 4-week initial period, with an estimated total cost of £28,980.00 commencing 3rd August 2026. The patient will receive daily clinical reviews Monday to Friday, with repatriation to occur when clinically appropriate. This direct award follows spot purchasing analysis confirming limited provider availability. Providers should demonstrate expertise in acute psychiatric care, patient assessment, and comprehensive mental health treatment within a specialist inpatient setting.