Friday, July 11, 2008

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Listen to the Commissioner Volume 3 Issue 7

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Monday, June 9, 2008

The Commissioner Volume 3 Issue 6 June 2008

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Commissioning assurance handbook

The world class commissioning programme is designed to raise ambitions for a new form of commissioning that has not yet been developed or implemented in a comprehensive way anywhere in the world.

The assurance system for world class commissioning (“commissioning assurance”) is linked to the vision and competencies published in December 2007 and to resources for support and development available both nationally and locally. Together these provide a coherent programme aimed at supporting commissioners in delivering their health agenda.

This handbook provides a detailed explanation of the content of commissioning assurance, with a practical guide on how to follow the process.

(Published June 2008, 90 pages)

Opportunities available now to support Trust Board development for world class commissioning

The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement commissions a number of programmes and activities that support Board development for world class commissioning. In addition to the opportunities listed on their site, other programmes are in development and will be launched in the coming months.

Our NHS Our Future: Leading Local Change

Lord Darzi was asked by the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health to lead the NHS Next Stage Review in July 2007. His interim report in October set out a vision for a world class NHS that is fair, personal, effective and safe.

The Review has been led locally by clinicians in each NHS region. Seventy-four local clinical working groups, made up of some 2000 clinicians, have been looking at the clinical evidence and engaging with their local communities. They have developed improved models of care for their regions to ensure that the NHS is up to date with the latest clinical developments and is able to meet changing needs and expectations.

Leading Local Change’ sets the context for these local visions and the principles which will guide their implementation.

Published May 2008, 19 pages

Primary Care Trust Procurement Guide for Health Services

The PCT Procurement Guide for Health Services supports NHS commissioners in deciding whether and how to procure health services through formal tendering and market-testing exercises. The Guide sets out the policy and regulatory context for procurement, and issues to consider when developing a procurement strategy. The Guide should be read in conjunction with the ‘Principles and rules for Cooperation and Competition’, published as Annex D of the 2008/9 Operating Framework, and the ‘Framework for Managing Choice, Cooperation and Competition

Published May 2008, 24 pages

Framework for Managing Choice, Cooperation and Competition

This Framework supports SHAs and PCTs in understanding the roles, responsibilities, values and behaviours required for the effective management of choice and competition within the NHS. The Framework is the outcome of a series of workshops and seminars with senior SHA and PCT leaders. The Framework should be read in conjunction with the Principles and rules for Cooperation and Competition (Annex D of the 2008/9 Operating Framework) and the ‘Primary Care Trust Procurement Guide’ (published 16 May 2008). Additionally, the Framework signals a further series of tools and guidance for system managers to be released throughout the year.

Published May 2009, 7 page

DH Social Enterprise Fund open for business

Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis has announced the opening of the second round of the Department of Health (DH) Social Enterprise Investment Fund. He also announced that this year, it would include a new element, the 'Innovation for Life Challenge Fund', developed in collaboration with the Social Enterprise Coalition. The Innovation for Life Challenge Fund will encourage Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) and their partners to find collaborative solutions to health and social care needs through social enterprise.

On top of the world

Two healthcare management experts lock horns over whether the drive to raise the standard of commissioning really can transform the quality of care.

Health Service Journal 2008; 118 (7006): 22-24

Ask your local Health Librarian to get hold of this article for you. Don't know where they are, find them with your postcod ate HLISD.

Towards World Class Commissioning - Best Practice Advice and Examples

With the World Class Commissioning agenda gathering momentum, many Trusts are making significant progress translating the vision into reality. Learning from best practice examples across the country is key if Trusts are to move towards World Class status.

This is an opportunity to catch up with HealthExecTV's World Class Commissioning programme designed to assist Trusts in their transition.

Keynote interviews from policy leaders provide advice on how to step up the current approach. In addition, best practice case studies showcase achievements from Trusts leading the way in delivering their world class commissioning strategies.

Simply click the links below to view the programme elements:

Gearing Up for World Class Commissioning - Interview with Gary Belfield, Director of Commissioning, DoH

World Class Commissioning - NHS Confed Support - Interview with David Stout, Director PCT Network

Evidence-Based Planning for World Class Commissioning Transition

West Kent PCT Makes Strides in Delivering World Class Commissioning Vision in Sexual Health and Dentistry

GPs Lead the Way in Practice-based Commissioning Transformation at Warrington

Under One Roof: Will polyclincs deliver integrated care?

Government policy is driving a fundamental shift of care from hospitals to more community-based settings. There is a growing expectation that this shift will be supported by the development of a network of new facilities in which primary, community and secondary care services are co-located, often referred to as polyclinics. Will this model improve the quality and accessibility of health care and deliver cost savings? Drawing on published information and original research into facilities similar to the polyclinic model in the United Kingdom and abroad, this report identifies and explores both opportunities and risks in relation to: quality of care, accessibility of services and cost.

Published June 2008, 67 pages

Other documents and conferences

New standard contracts for NHS mental health, community, and ambulance services- Monthly Bulletin

Vascular Checks - stakeholder workshop events

Making connections: using healthcare professionals to deliver organisational improvements

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Listen to the Commissioner Volume 3 Issue 6

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Friday, May 9, 2008

The Commissioner Volume 3 Issue 5 May 2008

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Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Commissioning Toolkit

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme has one principal aim - to help PCTs implement NICE Guidelines for people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. The Government is committed to improving access to psychological therapies and announced additional funding to increase services over the next three years. This Commissioning Toolkit is designed to help PCTs improve or establish stepped care psychological therapies following NICE guidelines. The toolkit is structured around the commissioning cycle and is specifically linked to the World Class Commissioning competencies. It brings together a wide range of existing tools and guides and includes positive practice examples throughout.

(Published April 2008, 48 pages)

CSIP Better Commissioning programme

CSIP's Commissioning Programme has 3 key strands of activity; The National Programme headed by Janet Crampton, The Better Commissioning Learning Improvement Network and Regional Commissioning Programmes.

They work with commissioners across health and care to develop commissioning transformational process to meet the new demands of the health and care system. They do this by; providing learning opportunities for commissioners at regional and national level to develop skills and capabilities; developing tools and resources to support policy implementation and best practice in commissioning; working across a number of government departments and in partnership with other agencies to ensure collaborative approaches to implementation.

CSIP have nine regional programmes

New NICE Commissioning guides: Cognitive behavioural therapy and Faecal continence service

This Faecal continence service commissioning guide provides support for the local implementation of NICE clinical guidelines through commissioning, and is a resource to help health professionals in England to commission an effective faecal continence service for the management of faecal incontinence (FI) in adults.

This CBT commissioning guide provides support for the local implementation of NICE clinical guidelines through commissioning, and is a resource to help health professionals in England to commission appropriate levels of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety in primary care.

West Kent PCT: World Class Commissioning strategy and delivering a commissioning model

West Kent PCT is making strides in its World Class Commissioning strategy and delivering a commissioning model with partner Avail Consulting that is improving value for money, driving up clinical standards and reducing inequalities in the local population.

Initially applied to sexual health and dentistry services, the PCT is already seeing 100% improvement in the delivery of GUM services, increased investment in prevention through screening programmes and a transformation in their relationships with providers.

To find out how they did it, click to the video:

http://www.healthexec.tv/cgi-bin/details.pl?action=pre&id=413

National Cancer Intelligence Network

In line with the commitments in the Cancer Reform Strategy, the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) will be launched in June 2008.

The NCIN will coordinate the collection, analysis and publication of comparative national information on diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for types of cancers and types of patient, in a way which is useful to patients, commissioners and service providers and other interested parties. As part of the NCRI, partners will help fund research on the data collated by the NCIN, facilitating a more informed analysis of cancer services than has ever been possible before.

Commissioning Specialist Library: Have you say

The National Library for Health are inviting you to assist them in the development of a Commissioning Specialist Library (CSL). The CSL will be an online resource providing timely and efficient access to high quality information resources to those involved in commissioning for health and wellbeing.

A resource to help primary care pharmacists in England involved in PBC

What does practice-based commissioning mean for primary care pharmacists? Heidi Wright, Head of Practice at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, outlines the benefits of becoming involved and points to the various resources available.

Revised guidance: primary care dental contracts Advice on managing end of year issues

Guidance provided in January 2007 (Gateway reference 7719) has been updated to reflect comments from the NHS and to clarify expectations for the end of the financial year. The guidance is now generic and does not relate to any one year in particular.

(Published April 2008, 13 pages)

Other documents, websites and conferences

North West Specialised Commissioning Team (NHS Net Link)

Dying patients given greater choice to die at home at no extra cost to the NHS, King’s Fund report concludes

Integrated Drug Treatment System for Prisons (IDTS): allocations for 2008/09

Putting prevention first - vascular checks: risk assessment and management

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Listen to the Commissioner Volume 3 Issue 5

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Monday, April 14, 2008

The Commissioner Volume 3 Issue 4 April 2008

To listen to Volume 3 Issue 4 (click here) or to download this podcast (right click and save).

Updated Child Health Promotion Programme

The new updated Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP): 'Pregnancy and the first five years of life' has been launched. It builds on the NSF that was published in 2004 and is intended to provide services tailored to the individual needs of children and families, acting as a best practice guide for health and social services.

The CHPP is a valuable tool for supporting Commissioners to meet obligations on breastfeeding, obesity prevention, infant mortality and the 12-week antenatal assessment. This high quality programme will help meet these vital requirements, but also help to improve general health and well-being among children and families in our communities.

(Published March 2008, 80 pages)

Towards World Class Commissioning Competency

Towards World Class Commissioning Competency is a report produced for West Midlands Strategic Health Authority by the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham.

This paper is intended to assist the thinking of those currently seeking answers to questions, such as: What are health care commissioners required to do? What knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours are required to do it well? Who (either within or beyond the NHS) is most likely to possess these attributes at the moment? How should these capabilities be developed and distributed in future?

The paper concludes that a one-size-fits-all approach to defining and developing commissioning competency is unlikely to be optimal, and reiterates that competency depends not just on knowledge and skills, but on values, motivation, and agency. This is an important message for those involved in commissioning at all levels of the system.

(Published December 2007, 24 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

National Dementia Strategy

The objectives of the project are to develop a national dementia strategy and implementation plan for publication in October 2008. The strategy will address three key themes – raising awareness, early diagnosis and intervention and improving the quality of care.

More strategic, timely information needed in primary healthcare

One year after the publication of The Intelligent Practice, a recent survey carried out by Dr Foster Intelligence found that current primary care information provision is lacking in strategic vision.

Information provided by PCTs seems to be drawing mixed reviews. Asked to evaluate the overall quality, format and frequency, nearly half of respondents said that what they were receiving from their PCT was sufficient, although more than a quarter found the information insufficient.

Putting you in the picture

Putting you in the picture is the first edition of the North West Specialised Commissioning Team’s newsletter.

Intended primarily for colleagues in Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), this first edition outlines some of the team’s key achievements since their formation in April 2007.

Many of the projects they were involved in are ongoing, and they will update you on progress in future newsletters.

(Published February 2008, 8 pages)

Choice at referral

Best practice guidance and information for referrers, providers and commissioners on how the roll-out of free choice in elective care in 2008/9 will operate.

(March 2008)

Refocusing the care programme approach: Policy and positive practice guidance

Following the national consultation, Reviewing the Care programme Approach (CPA), and having considered the issues identified, this guidance updates policy and sets out positive practice guidance for trusts and commissioners to review local practice to refocus CPA within mental health services.

(Published March 2008, 64 pages)

National Primary Care Research & Development Centre: Practice Based Commissioning

This study has three main aims.

Establishing the rationale for the introduction of practice-based commissioning, will focus on the
programme theory for the policy.

Addressing how the scheme is being implemented.

Investigating the outcomes from practice-based commissioning on local health economies.

Other documents and conferences

New Horizons for Mental Health Commissioning - An opportunity to help shape the agenda. 7th May 2008

Report of a national review of NHS Health Library Services in England; Recommendation 33- The Commissioning process needs to be underpinned by knowledge

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