World class commissioning - an introduction

World class commissioning is about delivering better health and wellbeing for the population, improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities. In partnership with local government, practice based commissioners and others, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs),supported by Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs), will lead the NHS in turning the world class commissioning vision into a reality, adding life to years and years to life.

Published October 2009, 10 pages

WCC summer update - July/August 2009

This letter from Gary Belfield gives a progress report on the world class commissioning (WCC) programme for July and August. It includes updates on the launch of assurance year two, the PBC National Clinical Network, a new film showcasing PBC in action, some new support and development resources and an update on the programme of Integrated Care Pilots (ICP).

Published August 2009, 4 pages

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:

1. "World-Class Commissioning": what does this initiative tell us about how effective commissioning by PCTs is?
2. The rationale behind commissioning: has the purchaser/ provider split been a success and is it needed?
3. Commissioning and "system reform": how does commissioning fit with Practice based Commissioning, "contestability" and the quasi-market, and Payment by Results?
4. Specialist commissioning;
5. Commissioning for the quality and safety of services.
   

Organisations and individuals are invited to submit written evidence to the inquiry.

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

Other documents and conferences

Event: World Class Commissioning Assurance Launch of Year Two

Event: Ageing- Future Planning: North West Horizon Scanning Conference 6th October 2009

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.

Other documents and conferences

1. WCC Data Packs coming soon
2. Reviews published on primary care information for the public
3. Tackling health inequalities: targeting routine and manual smokers in support of the Public Service Agreement smoking prevalence and health inequality targets
4. Review of NHS dental services in England
5. Recognising complexity: commissioning guidance for personality disorder services

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)

Welcome to the NHS Cancer Commissioning Toolkit

This site is aimed at supporting World-class Commissioning of cancer services across the NHS by making information on cancer care in England freely available. It includes a range of high-level indicators, as well as a number of links to more detailed information, right across the patient’s journey: from prevention and screening through referral and treatment to living with and beyond cancer, as well as end of life care.

Other Documents and Conferences

Conference: World Class Commissioning: effectively managing the market

Vascular Programme briefing packs

Invitation to become a commissioning pathfinder

The Department for Health is seeking applications to support world class commissioning for children and young people with speech, language and communications needs. (SLCN) As part of a wider programme of work around SLCN, applications are sought for commissioning pathfinders to test ways of improving how these services are commissioned and the outcomes for children and young people using them. Pathfinder selection will involve a two stage process. Stage one will comprise 2 bidder workshops on 14 April 2009 in London and 28 April 2009 in Birmingham. Written applications should be submitted by 18 May 2009. Stage two will involve a review of the applications, at national and regional level, with an announcement by mid-July 2009.

March 2009

Other Documents and Conferences

1. Conference: World Class Mental Health Commissioning 2009; Making an impact?
2. PBC Connection: an initiative by NHS Networks to bring together stakeholders in practice-based commissioning.
3. Improving the patient experience: sharing success in mental health and learning disabilities
4. The Power of One the Power of Many
5. Comprehensive Area Assessment: Framework document
6. Health Action Planning and Health Facilitation for people with learning disabilities

Securing better health for children and young people through world class commissioning

This guide to commissioning will support commissioners in delivering the vision set out in the accompanying child health strategy, Healthy lives, brighter futures by (a) using the world class commissioning competencies and (b) aligning the commissioning cycles across agencies.

Published February 2009, 22 pages

Policy Guidance and toolkits: World Class commissioning of primary care and community services

These documents are for commissioners and form part of a series of supporting guides to help primary care trusts become world class commissioners of primary care and community services. They have been co-produced by NHS East of England, NHS Primary Care Contracting (NHS PCC), and the Department of Health.

In addition to the first two guides (Primary care and community services: improving dental access, quality and oral health and Primary care and community services: improving GP services, published 27 January 2009) More guides are coming soon:

• Interactive toolkit for improving access and responsiveness of GP services
• Improving pharmaceutical services
• Measuring for quality improvement
• Improving services for socially excluded groups

Commissioning Excellence: Issue 1

The aim of this Primary Care Contracting Bulletin is to provide thought-provoking articles and insights into the business of primary care with particular emphasis on commissioning. The wider mission is to continue to support you in developing world class commissioning capability in line with the vision of primary care set out in the Next Stage Review.

To access this Bulletin you must first register with the website, you can do that at

http://www.pcc.nhs.uk/register.php

To access the bulletin search for Commissioning Excellence from the homepage, once you have logged in.

Commissioning weight management services for children and young people

This guide has been developed to support local areas in commissioning weight management services for children and young people. It is designed to reflect the move towards world class commissioning and joint commissioning of children’s services, and complement the existing suite of Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives publications.

It will also support commissioners towards achieving the world class commissioning competencies.

(Published November 2008, 114 pages)

The role of the Primary Care Trust board in world class commissioning

This DH document forms part of the wider WCC board development programme. It provides an update on the role and purpose of the PCT board in the context of world class commissioning.

This document aims to provide consolidated guidance on:

• the role and functions of the PCT;
• the role of the PCT board;
• the composition of the PCT board;
• the competencies and characteristics of a high-performing PCT board; and
• key sources of further guidance.

(Published November 2008, 25 pages)

World Class Commissioning and Audit Commission Auditors’ Local Evaluation (Use of Resources from 08/09)

This letter from Mark Britnel, Director General of Commissioning & System Management, and Andy McKeon, Managing Director of Health, Audit Commission, outlines how the Audit Commission Auditors’ Local Evaluation (Use of Resources from 08/09) will provide a basis to help PCTs develop under the World Class Commissioning assurance system.

(Published November 2008, 2 pages)