The Commissioner Volume 4 Issue 8
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The Commissioner Volume 4 Issue 8
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Health select Committee review of commissioning
The Health Select Committee has decided to undertake an inquiry into commissioning in the NHS.
The terms of reference for the inquiry are as follows:
- "World-Class Commissioning": what does this initiative tell us about how effective commissioning by PCTs is?
- The rationale behind commissioning: has the purchaser/ provider split been a success and is it needed?
- Commissioning and "system reform": how does commissioning fit with Practice based Commissioning, "contestability" and the quasi-market, and Payment by Results?
- Specialist commissioning;
- Commissioning for the quality and safety of services.
Organisations and individuals are invited to submit written evidence to the inquiry.
The link between health spending and health outcomes for the new English primary care trusts
This report describes a model which takes into account population need in a way that has not previously been undertaken. The authors note that their work has a number of limitations including the use of a rather narrow outcome indicator (mortality) and the need to assume a relatively stable pattern of spending by PCTs across programmes over the recent past. Notwithstanding these limitations, the study offers clear confirmation that current expenditure by PCTs on some important programmes of care is highly cost-effective and illustrates how programme budgeting data can be used to generate information which might usefully inform PCTs' spending decisions.
Published June 2009, 64 pages
PBC 2 years on: moving forward and making a difference
In 2007, a straw poll of GPs and practice managers by The King’s Fund and NHS Alliance found that primary care trusts (PCTs) were struggling to put in place the basic building blocks of practice-based commissioning (PBC). Two years on, has PBC moved forward and is it making a difference to patient care? A new poll has found continuing commitment to PBC and optimism about its potential but progress is still hampered by a lack of local vision, a lack of clarity over roles and responsibilities and bureaucratic governance processes. Moving into an era of restricted financial resources, it will become increasingly important for PCTs and practices to work together. Real clinician engagement – underpinned by locally developed visions, structures, agreements and lines of accountability – is key to the development of effective partnership working.
Published July 2009, 16 pages
Commissioning for Stroke Prevention in Primary Care
The new NHS Improvement publication “Commissioning for Stroke Prevention in Primary Care: the role of Atrial Fibrillation” which has been developed following a national consensus meeting of opinion leaders in the field, to develop a concerted strategy towards the management of AF in primary care.
This document considers the evidence that a review of AF management in primary care is needed to develop more systematic strategies for the identification, diagnosis and optimal treatment of patients with AF to reduce the risk of stroke. It is aimed at cardiac and stroke networks, PCTs, commissioners, medical directors, cardiac and stroke leads, public health colleagues, and GP’s.
Published June 2009, 16 pages
Commissioning interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm
This DH guidance is designed to direct commissioners in areas where tackling alcohol harm is an identified priority, to the resources and guidance, which will assist them in commissioning interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm in their local community. It offers ways to improve commissioning, looking at each World Class Commissioning competency and all stages in the commissioning cycle.
Published July 2009, 90 pages
Prospects for NHS funding: 2011-2017
NHS spending in England may have more than doubled in real terms since 1999/2000, but the prospects for future funding now look bleak. Although there is consensus that the NHS faces a tough financial future, there is no agreement about just how cold the financial climate will be. Starting with a look at historical funding for the NHS, The King’s Fund and the Institute for Fiscal Studies set out three plausible future funding scenarios and their consequences. The paper concludes with an assessment of each scenario and the options for funding up to 2017.
Published July 2009, 28 pages
Shared vision for mental health - consultation
Good mental health is fundamental to the well-being and prosperity of England. In the last decade, greater investment and reforms have transformed mental health care, but now we need to go further.
We need to target the root causes of mental illness and support the local development of higher quality, more personalised services.
New Horizons sets out ideas for achieving this. It explores the prevention of mental illness and earlier intervention when things go wrong. It also looks at how services can become more innovative and work more effectively together.
Primary care and community services: improving GP access and responsiveness
Part of the world class commissioning suite of practical guides, this document builds on existing good practice within the NHS to support PCTs in improving the accessibility and responsiveness of local GP services.
Published July 2009, 70 pages
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Monday, July 13, 2009
The Commissioner Volume 4 Issue 7
Feed for Podcast Standard Podcasts [ 6:11m]The Commissioner Volume 4 Issue 7
Practice-based commissioning in action: a guide for GPs
Practice-based commissioning offers front-line clinicians the opportunity to play a major role in the development and delivery of strategies and activities that improve local health and well-being. However, many GPs don’t know how to get started, to make their ideas for change a reality.
This Department for Health Guide provides easy to follow advice, practical examples and details of where to find further support. Although primarily designed for those just starting out with PBC, it also contains information and useful tips of interest to those that have already made progress but are looking to expand their activity further.
Published June 2009, 28 pages
Patient and public engagement – the early impact of World Class Commissioning
Primary care trusts have reported significant changes in the last two years to the way they organise patient and public engagement in commissioning, amounting to the beginnings of a cultural shift, the Picker Institute says today. However, the change in culture may, at this point, be mainly within the PCTs’ own management, rather than something that has impacted on the public or changed the nature of services. The public have yet to have a strong influence on the content of most patient and public engagement (PPE) strategies.
Published June 2009, 38 pages
Organisational Health
Organisational and system health; a new perspective on performance improvement? A new report from NHS Institute and Matrix Insight gives an accessible introduction to concepts of organisational health, details of case studies and a summary of implications for the NHS.
Published 2009, 33 pages
WCC support and development website soon
This new website has been set up for the support and development of world-class commissioning. The site, which is hosted by NHS Networks and supported by the Department of Health, contains news, policy, guidance and other resources for commissioners against each of the 11 competencies.
Commissioning in a cold climate
The World Class Commissioning programme is designed to improve the capacity and capability of primary care trusts (PCTs) to deliver better care, better health and better value for the populations they serve.
This discussion paper outlines the challenges facing commissioners over the next few years and identifies actions that PCTs might take to prepare their health economies for what is to come.
Published June 2009, 12 pages
The Framework for procuring External Support for Commissioners
FESC is a practical and cost effective procurement tool, created by the Department of Health, to help primary care trusts (PCTs) address gaps in commissioning capability or capacity by providing easy access to high quality commissioning solutions from pre-qualified and experienced private sector partners. This brochure sets out what FESC is, why you should consider using it and how to do so.
Published June 2009, 16 pages
Transforming community services: ambition, action, achievement
These Department of Health best practice guides have a vital role to play in the delivery of the intentions for High Quality Care for All: the Next Stage Review. They set out ambitions, taking action and measurement of the achievement and link with, should be read in conjunction with the quality framework/quality indicators.
Published June 2009
Regulated fertility services: a commissioning aid
An Expert Group on Commissioning NHS Infertility Provision was established by the Department of Health at the beginning of 2008, with the aim of identifying the barriers to the implementation of the NICE fertility guideline and helping PCTs move towards the implementation of the guideline. 'Regulated fertility treatment: a commissioning aid' was produced by the expert group, and launched by Gillian Merron, Minister of state for Public Health.
Published June 2009, 24 pages
Joint commissioning framework for dementia
The National Dementia Strategy joint commissioning framework provides best practice guidance for commissioning dementia services. It includes a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment template, summary of NICE and SCIE evidence for dementia services, commissioning levers against each of the strategy's objectives and a summary of South East Coastal SHA dementia metrics.
Published June 2009, 72 pages
Other documents and conferences
- WCC Data Packs coming soon
- Reviews published on primary care information for the public
- Tackling health inequalities: targeting routine and manual smokers in support of the Public Service Agreement smoking prevalence and health inequality targets
- Review of NHS dental services in England
- Recognising complexity: commissioning guidance for personality disorder services
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Saturday, June 20, 2009
Deed of variation for 2008 NHS standard acute contract
This suite of Department of Health documents is for those commissioners and providers who entered into the acute services contract that was published in December 2007, who are now working to a document that does not reflect changes brought about by the operating framework for 2009-1010.
The standard deed of variation is designed to vary those existing acute services contracts by incorporating the significant elements of the 2009/2010 standard NHS contract for acute services brought about by the operating framework.
(Published May 2009, 3 documents)
Social Care: reform of funding and delivery
There is almost universal consensus that the current system of social care funding is unsustainable and in urgent need of reform. Many older people and adults with disabilities, well as their families and carers, are being failed now and under the existing arrangements highly unlikely that in future the state will be able to support the costs of rising demand for long-term care. By 2026 it is estimated that one in five people will be aged 65 or over and number of over-85s will have increased by two-thirds – this compares with overall population growth of just 10 per cent. The 2009 Budget revised down the government’s forecasts for what it expects to spend on public services and benefits from 2011/12, but given that the existing system is unsustainable doing nothing is not an option, even in the current economic climate. This briefing from The King’s Fund looks ahead to the Green Paper on social care, expected in June, and sets out the key tests that any new settlement will need to meet.
(Published May 2009, 3 pages)
The Health Bill second reading – briefing from the King’s Fund
The King’s Fund has produced this briefing ahead of the second reading of the Health Bill in the House of Commons.
The King’s Fund welcomes the measures outlined in the new Health Bill to introduce a Constitution for the NHS; pilot direct payments for patients; require providers of NHS-funded care to produce annual quality accounts; and make further provisions on tobacco control.
Ahead of the Health Bill’s second reading in the House of Commons on Monday 8 June, they have some specific issues relating to the Health Bill that they raise and seek clarification on these during its passage.
(Published June 2009, 4 pages)
Making markets work for patients: Are commissioners up for it?
On the Kings Fund Blog John Appleby comments It’s now nearly two decades since the introduction of a separation between purchasers and providers in the NHS. In that time purchasers (as they were then called) should have come a long way in grappling with an essential commissioning task: understanding and managing markets. But with PCTs scoring worst on the World Class Commissioning competency of ‘stimulating the market’ it’s clear that there is still some way to go. The question is, does the NHS really understand what a complex and difficult task this market management is going to be?
(Published May 2009)
Conference: WCC Competencies - Personal Development Awareness
These events aim to support PCTs to develop their workforce and realise benefits for the organisation in the journey to becoming A World Class Commissioning organisation.
The programme will provide information that enables people and organisations to increase individual skills and raise performance to meet World Class Commissioning
Competencies.
Conference 26th June
World class commissioning monthly update May 2009
A Monthly progress report on the world class commissioning programme from Gary Belfield.
(Published May 2009, 54 pages)
Understanding what matters: A guide to using patient feedback to transform care
Last autumn, health secretary Alan Johnson said he wanted to see NHS Trusts collecting and using “immediate feedback” from patients to drive service improvement.
To help the NHS harness the information it gathers, a guide – called ‘Understanding what matters: A guide to using patient feedback to transform services’ has been published.
The guide sets out best practice in terms of collecting, analysing and using patient feedback to transform services. It also includes examples of how the NHS is already using feedback from patients to get results.
This resource, is one of a number being produced to help services understand and respond to what really matters to patients and their experiences of care.
(Published May 2009, 34 pages)
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Local healthcare commissioning: grassroots involvement? : a survey of local advocacy groups
This report reveals that many patients feel local healthcare commissioning, the process intended to ensure health and care services effectively meet the needs of the local population by engaging with patient representatives, is not working effectively. It also identifies specialist nurses as the best placed healthcare professionals to make the commissioning process a success.
Published February 2009, 52 pages
Working better together? Managing local strategic partnerships
The Audit Commission national study 'Working better together? Managing local strategic partnerships' reviews arrangements for performance, resource management, and governance. The report identifies LSPs as evolving and maturing, local and national partners still need to recognise the key dynamics that support partnership working. Too few LSPs take an area-wide approach to performance and resource management. Some LSPs have well developed performance arrangements, but less developed resource management. And most LSPs have progress to make on their improvement journey if they are to deliver sustainable community strategy and LAA outcomes. LSPs that have good, shared systems for performance management (with performance reporting, resource allocation, and risk management) will find it easier to show that they are on track to achieve agreed outcomes than those that do not.
Published April 2009
The future of Community Health Services
The Department of Health requires primary care trusts (PCTs) to lay out a strategic vision and organisational options for the community health services that they currently manage. This provides PCTs with an opportunity to address many years of neglect in these services and to prepare for the growing health care needs of a population that is ageing and has rising rates of chronic disease.
The Kings Fund Report Shaping PCT Provider Services: The future for community health, published in April 2009, draws on a range of evidence about community services and health care service development. It aims to help PCTs to develop a service and organisational strategy that addresses key performance issues as well as to configure services to meet the changing needs of their local population.
Supporting page
Published April 2009, 56 pages
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