“Voluntary and independent sectors can participate in the delivery of commissioning support”, says report

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This report is about how the voluntary and independent sectors can support the commissioning process, and is aimed at them, the clinical commissioning groups, and the commissioning support units. Key elements The key required commissioning support elements, as described in Figure 1 of this report, include: Health needs assessment, using the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment [read the full story…]

“Carers can help commissioners meet financial targets”, according to report

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Carers are integral to health care improvement. This report highlights evidence that shows “the economic value of the contribution they make is £119bn per year”. However, without support, carers can feel isolated, depressed, and may be living in poor financial circumstances, which can lead to poor health for the carer too. The problem health and [read the full story…]

Framework to help commissioners make fair resource allocation decisions

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This paper describes the development of a framework to help commissioners make effective decisions with regards to local resource allocation decisions. The aim is to reduce variation in prescribing patterns across England, also known as the ‘postcode lottery.’ While the framework was originally developed by the former National Prescribing Centre, which is now the Medicines [read the full story…]

Getting it Right Toolkit for commissioners to support good practice in the light of Winterbourne View

getting things right

The abusive practices by staff  at Winterbourne View has led to a number of investigations, reports and recommendations, including serious case review.  The need for change in was set out in the Department of Health’s publication of the final report on Winterbourne view – ‘Transforming Care: A national response to Winterbourne View‘ In the West [read the full story…]

Health resources: who decides who gets what

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Introduction Published by The King’s Fund, this briefing discusses how to improve the allocation of health resources in England. It is aimed at commissioners and local authorities, and other key decisions-makers regarding health care delivery. This is an important document, as it explains clearly the changes taking place from April 2013, as a consequence of [read the full story…]

Commissioners’ priorities for improving the NHS

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Introduction This document is relevant to commissioners, public health, local authorities, Clinical Commissioning Groups, and Health and Wellbeing Boards. Originally published in March 2011, it has been updated due to the changes taking place in the NHS as of 1st April 2013. The changes involve more than £65 billion of public money, representing the NHS [read the full story…]

The role of commissioners in improving the NHS

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“Healthcare success in the future will be judged on the quality of outcomes.” From April 2013, improvement in the NHS will be driven by clinical commissioners. The NHS Commissioning Board has published this planning framework with supporting material to help health organisations meet three key objectives: Seamless management of organisational change Capacity-provision for clinical commissioning [read the full story…]

Practical guidance for Clinical Commissioning Groups on improving health of people with learning disabilities

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The healthcare needs of people with learning disabilities have been well charted in the literature, although the response of healthcare services to these needs has often been poor. Recent reports including Mencap’s Death by Indifference, which told the stories of six people with learning disabilities who died in the care of the NHS,  the Disability [read the full story…]