The Commissioner: Volume 2 Issue 8

Friday, August 10, 2007

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

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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

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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

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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)

The Commissioner