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

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.

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

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

Education Commissioning Briefing

The briefing paper contains information on subjects such as:

• Data – what kind of information and intelligence to use that can help inform your education commissioning decisions (for example health needs assessments and demographics)

• Funding – how education is paid for and what sources of funding there are

• Process – the formal, staged process of commissioning (rather than simply purchasing) education.

The briefing paper has been designed to provide information and support to education commissioners and those colleagues who need to have an understanding of education commissioning

Best practice guidance for joint working between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry

The purpose of this guidance is to; Encourage NHS organisations and staff to consider joint working as a realistic option for the delivery of high-quality healthcare; Inform and advise NHS staff of their main responsibilities when entering into joint working arrangements with the pharmaceutical industry.

(Published February 2008, 12 pages)

World Class Commissioning

The Department is transforming the commissioning health and care services in the NHS to drive unprecedented improvements in patient outcomes. We worked with commissioners and their partners to develop a vision for world class commissioning and a set of 11 organisational competencies. Delivery of this vision will take place within an assurance system. This will improve performance and development, and reward commissioners as they move from their current position towards world class standards.

Commissioning Roadmap

The North West Commissioning Roadmap website is aimed at commissioners of adult health and wellbeing services in local authorities and PCTs in the North West.

It is a way of sharing practice around the region by offering advice, case studies, summaries of national guidance, comprehensive resources sections with links to other websites, and regional contact details.

Report of the High Level Group (HLG) on Clinical Effectiveness

There is variation in clinical practice in the NHS and in the treatments that patients receive. Some of this may be appropriate but patients may also receive treatments which are not very effective or for which there is no evidence. The HLG found that there is much work already being undertaken by a range of organisations and some good examples in local organisations. It also found that there is no ‘single bullet’ to address the issue of clinical effectiveness. This is a complex issue. Staff in the NHS need to be empowered locally to take ownership of the agenda and promote clinically effective practice.

(Published October 2007, 56 pages)