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)

The NHS in England: The operating framework for 2009/10

The operating framework sets out a brief overview of the priorities for the NHS next year. It is accompanied by annexes (some part of the document, some web-based only) which provide more detail on the priorities, how they are measured and how the new arrangements for managing the system will work.

Published December 2008, 52 pages

The standard NHS contracts for acute hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services and supporting guidance: These documents represent Annex D to the NHS Operating Framework for 2009-10

King's Fund statement on NHS Operating Framework 2008/09

Commenting in response to the publication of the NHS Operating Framework for 2008/09, King’s Fund chief executive Niall Dickson said:

'It is right that the government should set national priorities and right too that they should maintain the assault on hospital infections and the drive to cut waiting time. These are areas that patients are justifiably concerned about and it is imperative the NHS makes progress in them.‘

Crucially, this document is an important step forward in getting to grips with what has long been the Achilles heel of the service – commissioning. The Department of Health is right to emphasise that better care and services will not be achieved through central directives and targets, but through better local commissioning led by primary care trusts (PCTs).

Care Outside Hospital

The NHS Operating Framework for 2008/2009 expects PCTs to take ambitious steps toward providing care as close to the patient's home as possible. NHS organisations need to focus their efforts on those areas most likely to bring significant benefits and to apply effective approaches to ensure that the change delivers.

Prioritise Opportunities: User Guide

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