Patient and public involvement in PCT commissioning

A survey of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) was carried out to determine their readiness to engage patients and the public in healthcare commissioning. One third (51 out of 152 PCTs) responded. By virtue of their interest in the survey, these are likely to be among the better end of the patient and public involvement spectrum. While some PCTs have embarked on ambitious programmes to engage patients and the public in commissioning, many are not ready for the new challenges that confront them.

It is crucial that PCTs effectively involve patients and the public in their commissioning processes. A commissioning strategy without the input of the community is not worth the paper it is written on. But if they are to prioritise this as they must, PCT staff need help: they need budgets, leadership, techniques and technology.

(Published June 2007, 25 pages)

Good practice in offender health

The report outlines examples of good practice in provision of health care services to offenders in prison and the community. The examples have been drawn from surveys, internet search and individual submissions. From all of the documents and sources reviewed, over 400 were selected as potential examples of good practice. The examples have been distilled from that selection and form the results of the survey.

(Published July 2007, 81 pages)

Social Enterprises and the NHS

Recent years have seen great changes in the accountability of different parts of the NHS as alternative providers have become an increasingly visible part of the healthcare landscape. This latest report from Durham University is therefore very timely in its analysis of the wide variety of organisations characterised as social enterprises and their approaches to involving staff, public and patients.

(Published July 2007, 63 pages)

Hearts and minds: commissioning from the voluntary sector

This report sets out our findings on: the extent and nature of the voluntary sector's delivery of public services; the locally perceived impact of government efforts to build capacity; the current state of commissioning; and procurement practice. The report is primarily for managers in local councils who are responsible for commissioning services, but it will also be of interest to voluntary organisations and national policymakers.

(Published July 2007, 76 pages)

Developing effective joint commissioning

This paper argues that effective joint commissioning between health and social care is a necessary component of the government's plans for adult services manifest in the policies of its 2006 white paper, 'Our health, our care, our say'.

Journal of Care Services Management 2007; 1 (3) p. 279-93

Ask your local health librarian to locate this item for you.

Strategic Health Asset Planning and Evaluation

Strategic Health Asset Planning and Evaluation toolkit (SHAPE) has been developed by the Department of Health for SHAs and PCTs. SHAPE is a web enabled, evidence based tool designed to support and inform strategic planning. It brings together existing national data sets of clinical activity, human geography and healthcare estate assets supported by Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology.

The impact of contracting-out on health system performance

This paper presents a conceptual framework that is expected to facilitate comprehensive, rigorous, and standardized evaluation of contracting-out at health system level.

Health Policy 2007; 82 (2) p. 200-11

Ask your local health librarian to locate this item for you.

From general practice to general provider

As the primary care landscape changes following recent proposals for expansion and greater services, astute individuals and teams are taking the opportunity to expand their horizons.

Management in Practice 2007; 8 p. 26-27

Ask your local health librarian to locate this item for you.

Primary Care Service Frameworks: New Management of Health for People with Learning Disabilities in Primary Care

The purpose of this Primary Care Service Framework is to equip commissioners, providers and practitioners with the necessary background knowledge, service and implementation details to safely commission and deliver a high quality, integrated service for the management of health for people with learning disabilities in primary care.

(Website)

Other documents and conferences

South West Primary Care Leads Network Event: PBC & Pharmacy

New university-accredited programme: Advanced Commissioning

Delivering the 18 week pathway; Update

Practice based commissioning and 18 weeks: How to create win-wins

Improving services and support for people with dementia

Dental Commissioning and Contract Monitoring

How can funding of long-term care adapt for an ageing population?

Debates and dilemmas; commissioning children and young people

This briefing bulletin will help directors of children’s services and senior managers with lead responsibility for strategic commissioning to improve outcome for children and young people by developing more robust commissioning arrangements. The briefing is informed by a study seminar sponsored by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and Research in Practice (RiP). Discussion at the seminar was wide ranging; it provided a rich source of information and practical suggestions. The seminar confirmed that strategic commissioning is a complex process and that directors of children’s services need to play a lead role in championing new approaches. Commissioning must focus on outcomes – and this is a different and challenging way of designing and performance-managing services.

(Published July 2007, 20 pages)

Commissioning health care services for children and young people: increasing nurses’ influence

This guidance provides assistance in influencing the commissioning process for nurses who manage and lead children’s and young people’s services. As children’s nurses, it is our professional duty to monitor the quality of services provided to children and their families and influence processes for service enhancements. Commissioning processes are continually evolving, and this document will provide information and support to help you influence the development of effective, efficient and appropriate high quality services for your area.

(Published May 2004, 20 pages)

Commissioning children's services and the role of the voluntary and community sector

The Laming Inquiry, followed by the publication of Every Child Matters, heralded the start of a debate that would bring about the most significant changes to the provision of Children’s Services for a generation. This document seeks to bring together core principles and challenges, as well as evidence of good practice. We hope it will help professionals in all sectors to share a common understanding of commissioning and the role of voluntary sector plays at the moment and has the potential to play in the future, as we progress our shared goal of improving children’s outcomes.

(Published 2004, 35 pages)

Joint planning and commissioning framework for children, young people and maternity services

The framework aims to help local planners and commissioners to design a unified system in each local area which will create a clear picture of what children and young people need, will make the best use of resources, and will join up services so they provide better outcomes than they can on their own. The framework is designed for people working in all sectors of children, young people and maternity services including political leaders, senior management, planners, commissioners, providers, corporate procurement, finance, legal and other support staff, central and regional government officials.

(Published 2006, 36 pages)

Commissioning drug services for vulnerable young people

This self-assessment tool is designed to assist PCTs and their partners in assessing their knowledge and capability to commission children's and young people's services. It reflects the importance of effective partnerships in commissioning the integrated services, which are fundamental to the improved outcomes of services for children and young people.

(Published April 2007)

Commissioning drug services for vulnerable young people

This paper examines commissioning processes for drug services in the case of vulnerable young people. In the context of government's modernisation agenda it characterises drug service commissioning as an activity that should occur across professional boundaries in health, social care, local authority and crime agencies.

Drugs education prevention and policy, 2003, 10 (3) p. 251-262

Ask your local health librarian to locate this item for you.

Fact file: joint commissioning of children's service

What will a shake-up of children's services mean for joint commissioning bodies? Amanda Reid provides an overview.

Care and Health Magazine, 2005 Suppl., (105) p. 17-18

Ask your local health librarian to locate this item for you.

Children and Young People's Plan

The Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) is an important element of the Every Child Matters reform programme. It has been a powerful force in driving forward better local integration of children's services and the development of local partnership arrangements.

A series of 12 papers that presents the findings from NFER’s analysis of Children and Young People’s Plans (CYPPs) were produced. Number 3 Commissioning and Resourcing in Children and Young People’s Plans sets out how aspects of commissioning and resources feature in CYPP and includes illustrative examples.

Other documents or websites of interest

Children Services: Department of Health

Commissioning Children’s and Young People’s Palliative Care Services

Children’s NSF Case Studies