COMMISSIONING

Currency options for the Healthy Child Programme: Transforming Community Services (11th March 2010)
Community services have historically been funded on block contracting arrangements, making it difficult for commissioners to identify what services are being delivered and pay for them appropriately. The publication, Currency and pricing options for community services (DH, January 2009) signalled the need to develop more effective ways of paying for services which reward quality and productivity, and encourage activity which reflects local priorities.

This latest publication is a tool for commissioners of community services that contribute to the first five years of the universal Healthy Child Programme (HCP). Commissioners can use this to develop a more transparent approach to paying for these services. The development of better ways of paying for services will reward quality and productivity, and encourage activity which promotes the aims and outcomes of the HCP.
Document

World Class Commissioning - March 2010 update (18th March 2010)
Monthly progress report on the World Class Commissioning Programme
Update

Successful Commissioning: How to secure value for money through better financial relationships with third sector organisations (17th March 2010)
The National Audit Office has launched this online guide which focuses on those aspects of the commissioning process that are most likely to affect financial relationships with third sector organisations. It looks at how commissioners can help the third sector to deliver services and outcomes that represent value for money. The main characteristics of the guide are that it:

• clearly sets out the main issues for effective financial relationships with third sector organisations;
• makes use of existing guidance in an accessible and practical way, and;
• dispels some of the ‘myths’ that exist around commissioning with the third sector.

Guide

PRESENTATIONS - Commissioning for health services. Your questions answered. (18th March 2010)
The presentations from this event, that was held on 17th March 2010 at the Stobart Stadium, Widnes, are now available.
Presentations

Valuing people now: transfer of funding and commissioning of social care for adults with learning disabilities from the NHS to local government: final returns 2010/11 by 31 March 2010 (18th March 2010)
From April 2009, funding and commissioning of social care for adults with learning disabilities transferred from the NHS to local authorities. This letter to PCT and Local Authority lead commissioners gives guidance on implementation and requests final returns for 2010/11 by Wednesday 31 March 2010.
Documents

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Co-operative PCTs - the future of the NHS? (11th March 2010)
Three years ago a former nurse and a speech therapist, who held senior positions in their Primary Care Trust (PCT), lifted the nursing and therapy teams out of the PCT and set up a new, employee-owned, not for profit business.

This story reports their new business model showing that the future of health care could be co-operative.
Information

PROVIDERS

Piloting Quality Accounts for primary care and community services providers (22nd February 2010)
NHS North East and NHS East Midlands are working with a range of providers across general practice, dentistry, community Healthcare services provision, out of hours and urgent care provision and community pharmacy to pilot Quality Accounts in 2010.

This pilot aims to explore how Quality Accounts for these providers could best develop. An evaluation of these reports will help inform the direction of any requirements relating to the production of Quality Accounts by primary care and community services providers.

The framework for the testing has been developed in discussion with those involved. The document is aimed at those undertaking the pilots, but may also be of interest to others.
Publications

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Transforming Community Services: The assurance and approvals process for PCT provided community services (5th February 2010)
The NHS Operating Framework 2010/11 set a requirement for proposals for future forms of PCT-provided community services to be agreed with SHAs by 31 March 2010.

Building on Enabling new patterns of provision, further guidance has been published that aims to support:

• PCTs as they develop proposals for the future shape of their community services;
• SHAs in their role to assure PCT proposals for community provider organisational form.

Guidance

NHS

The standard NHS contracts for acute hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services and supporting guidance (18th January 2010)
The NHS standard contracts for Mental Health and Learning Disability, Ambulance Services, Acute Hospital and Community Services are published today.

The contracts support the NHS Operating Framework for 20010-2011: The contracts should be read in conjunction with the Principles and Rules for Co-operation and Competition and the PCT Procurement Guide.
Documents

Funding and Performance of Healthcare Systems in the Four Countries of the UK Before and After Devolution (20th January 2010)
Political devolution means there are now four National Health Services in the United Kingdom. The health services of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all funded by the UK taxpayer, but have developed different systems of governance and different methods of providing healthcare.

Funding and Performance of Healthcare Systems in the Four Countries of the UK Before and After Devolution examines the impact of this by studying key performance indicators for the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at three time points – 1996/7, 2002/3 and 2006/7. The report also undertakes a completely new comparison of NHS performance in the English regions and the devolved countries. This is the first time such an analysis has been conducted.
Report

The operating framework for the NHS in England 2010/11 (4th January 2010)
This briefing details the key points of the operating framework, the white paper and the Pre-Budget Report.
Briefing

NHS European Office: policy priorities 2010 (5th January 2010)
The NHS European Office has published its policy priorities for 2010. The work of the European Office covers a wide range of EU policy and legislative proposals of key relevance to the NHS; as a provider and commissioner of healthcare, as an employer and as a business.

This document outlines the main policy areas on which the European Office will be working throughout the calendar year.
Document

The new EU Remedies Directive: proven procurement is of the essence (13th January 2010)
New EU rules which improve access to rapid and effective review procedures for suppliers who allege that public authorities have breached procurement rules have taken effect in the UK.

The EU Remedies Directive amends the UK Public Contract Regulations and will affect all procurement contracts commenced after 20 December 2009.

The NHS European Office have published this briefing to raise awareness amongst NHS managers involved in procurement of the key changes to the rules and to highlight new provisions in the law which public authorities can use to protect themselves from challenge.
Briefing

Controlling public spending: The NHS in a period of tight funding (7th January 2010)
Policy Exchange research, which included a roundtable discussion with a number of senior academics and business leaders with expertise in the NHS, considers some of the options for the NHS in a period of tight funding. They believe that in order to protect the NHS into the future the next Government needs to make bold decisions on:
Performance related pay
Reducing variations in clinical practice
GP fundholding
Decommissioning services
Transformational change project
Report

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Improving information for stakeholders: a report of a PCT and SHA working group to improve community information (2nd December 2009)
This report sets out the findings of a joint DH/SHA/PCT working group to improve community information. The report provides a framework for commissioners and providers to improve information on community services and include a number of case studies from NHS organisations.
Report

Quality framework for community services: directory of indicators. Draft version (1st December 2009)
This directory sets out a list of quality indicators that are currently being developed for publication. The Department is piloting these indicators at 23 sites and is looking to publish amendments or changes to these at the end of the year.
Publication

COMMUNITY SERVICES

HSMC Policy Paper 5. Integrating Care and Transforming Community Services: What Works? Where Next? (24th September 2009)
Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) has recently launched a new policy paper on integrated care. This follows on from a seminar organised by HSMC earlier this year which brought together experts from the US and UK to consider the issues and the evidence for what works.

Ham and De Silva’s paper summarises the presentations made at the seminar and considers the implications for policy makers and practitioners, noting the increasing interest in integrated care given the context of an ageing population and the increasing burden of chronic disease.

The authors note that while integrated care may not be the only solution, it has an important role to play in ensuring quality and the effective use of resources.
Paper

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Governance arrangements to support PCT provider committees (30th July 2009)
This governance guidance is intended to help support PCT provider committees implement strong robust governance arrangements in order to deliver the transformation of community services.
Guidance

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Evidence for transforming community services (10th July 2009)
The Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) at the University of Birmingham analysed over 18,000 studies to examine the evidence for a range of community services. This independent research was commissioned by the Department of Health to underpin the guidance within the 6 transformational guides and for information purposes all the studies are available on the links below.
Report

COMMISSIONING

Recognising complexity: commissioning guidance for personality disorder services (2nd July 2009)
Guidance for commissioners in the NHS, criminal justice system, local authorities and others, which provides information and suggestions on best practice when considering services and systems for people with personality disorders.
Guidance

PBC two years on. Moving forward and making a difference? (1st July 2009)
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.
Document

Primary Care and Community Services: improving GP access and responsiveness (7th July 2009)
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.
Guidance

Guide to world-class commissioning competency 5 (June 2009)
A guide to improving performance on world-class commissioning competency 5 is now available. Sponsored by the NHS Information Centre and supported by the Department of Health, the guide includes facts about PCT performance on competency 5 in last year's assessment round and best practice profiles of the PCTs who performed best on the competency.

With its focus on knowledge management and needs assessment, competency 5 underpins all 11 competencies within world-class commissioning and is the one primary care trusts need to master to deliver high quality services for local people.
Guide

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Transforming Community Services Quality Framework: guidance for community services (24th June 2009)
This guidance sets out how the seven elements of the Quality Framework apply in community services. It includes a set of proposed indicators of quality that will be developed and assured for publication. The Department will be seeking views from interested stakeholders on these indicators.
Guidance

Transforming Community Services: ambition, action, achievement (24th June 2009)
These 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.
Guides

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

Shaping PCT Provider Services. The future for community health (23rd April 2009)
Primary care trusts (PCTs) provide a broad and complex range of community-based services. However, the commissioning and management of these services have been a challenge for the NHS and in particular for PCTs. As PCTs provide community health services, there is a potential conflict of interest for their role as commissioners. The government is clear that PCTs need to separate their provider and commissioning functions. This report examines the issues surrounding the placement of community health services, the options proposed for their reorganisation, and the steps that must be taken to deliver the desired transformation in community health services.
Report

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Transforming Community Health Services Briefing (2nd March 2009)
Transforming community health services has become a key priority for many NHS organisations over the last year and many organisations are beginning to consider the workforce aspects of the transformation programme.

This briefing, based on a study into staff attitudes towards transferring to new organisational models, looks at the barriers and incentives to change, and examines insights from staff in organisations that are further forward in the transformation process.
Briefing

COMMISSIONING

Transforming community services and world class commissioning: resource pack for commissioners of community services (13th January 2009)
This resource pack sets out the principles of good practice when commissioning community services, showcases examples of existing good practice through case studies in 6 clinical areas and signposts commissioners to the most pertinent and relevant information.
Resource Pack

Cancer Commissioning Guidance (12th January 2009)
The cancer commissioning guidance announced as part of the Cancer Reform Strategy has been developed to support world-class commissioning of cancer services across the NHS. The guidance sets out, in an easy-to-use format, key issues and questions that commissioners and cancer network teams will want to take into consideration when assessing health needs, reviewing services, developing their contract service specifications and monitoring performance.
Guidance

Supporting people with long term conditions: commissioning personalised care planning - a guide for commissioners (19th January 2009)
This guide will provide commissioners of health and social care services with the information and support they need to embed personalised care planning in their localities.
Guidance

Information for commissioning end of life care (January 2009)
This information from the National End of Life Care Programme team, in conjunction with the Department of Health, commissioning work group, the end of life care service specification working group and individual commissioners, will support the commissioning of a whole-systems approach to end of life care and is intended for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), practice based commissioners, mental health service commissioners, older people service commissioners and long term condition service commissioners.
Information

Commissioning to improve oral health (12th January 2009)
NHS PCC has published a paper covering the background and approach to commissioning for improvement in oral health. Based on a presentation at the "Delivering better oral health - embedding prevention in NHS practice" events in September 2008, the paper includes a step by step guide to strategic planning for prevention.
Paper

PROVIDERS

Transforming community services: enabling new patterns of provision (13th January 2009)

This enabling guidance is intended to help PCT providers of community services to move their relationship with their commissioners to a purely contractual one, consider what type(s) of organisations would best meet the future needs of patients and local communities, and how change can be managed to support the transformation of services to patients.

Guidance

COMMISSIONING

Transforming Community Services: currency and pricing options for community services (5th January 2009)
This document is intended as a resource to be used by commissioners and providers of community services to help create transparent models of funding, through the use of new currencies and better pricing at a local level. New currencies (the units of healthcare for which a provider is funded) and better pricing are key to transforming community services, enabling commissioners to incentivise improvements in quality and value. The use of new currencies with accurate pricing should also lead to more services being available closer to home for patients.
Document

Independent Mental Health Advocacy. Guidance for Commissioners (December 2008)
This guidance from National Institute Mental Health in England (NIMHE) has been prepared for the introduction of Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) services on 1 April 2009. The guide outlines the statutory IMHA role, discusses good practice for IMHA services and outlines the commissioning process required to ensure high quality IMHA services are provided for qualifying patients under the Mental Health Act 1983. Effective commissioning is key to provision of IMHA services. This guidance is designed to support commissioners in preparing for this new statutory service by providing a reference document to the legal and practical issues to be considered when commissioning IMHA services.
Guidance

Commissioning Excellence (January 2009)

NHS Primary Care Contracting have published a new quarterly briefing aimed at chief executives, board members, directors and senior managers responsible for commissioning in primary care trusts. To access this you must be registered with a subscribing organisation. Please click here to register.

Briefing (You must login to access it)

PRIMARY CARE

Invitation to Transforming community services: towards healthy change (17th December 2008)
The Transforming Community Services (TCS) programme is hosting a launch event in London on 13 January, designed to help strengthen and benchmark the business processes and staff capabilities of PCT community services. The TCS programme is a major element in the primary and community care vision as set out in ‘High Quality Care for All’.
Information