CSSs present issues at Checkpoint 2

While most commissioning support services (CSSs) have passed Checkpoint 2 – the outcome of the second stage in the business review process – there are 12 which either have issues that need rapid management or that cannot continue, the NHS Commissioning Board Authority has reported...<<Read More>>

Dissatisfaction with commissioning support for CCGs

A survey by the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) and the NHS Alliance (NHSA) on commissioning support for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) has revealed widespread dissatisfaction. The survey, conducted in January, got 95 responses from across the four strategic health...<<Read More>>

NHS Commissioning Board established in shadow form

The NHS Commissioning Board will be established in shadow form today, to ensure the whole commissioning system of the NHS is cohesive, coordinated and efficient. It will function initially as a special health authority, and is due to take on full statutory responsibilities from...<<Read More>>

New steering group to support CCGs

The NHS Alliance and National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) are set to form a steering group to advance the work of the Clinical Commissioning Coalition, launched this month to support clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). This steering group will ensure...<<Read More>>

Clinical Commission Coalition launched

The NHS Alliance has formed a partnership with the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) to provide independent support to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The group will be known as the Clinical Commission Coalition. The organisation will ensure CCGs...
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NAO warning over social enterprises in health

The NAO has warned against over-optimism in the setting up of social enterprises in healthcare. The new organisations, often formed of former NHS staff selling their services back to the health service, run a significant risk of failure and the NHS itself often ends up...
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Dealing with ‘do not attends’

A trust at which one in 10 outpatients don’t turn up for appointments has been launching initiatives to try to deal with the problem. Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust (LCH) says the problem is costing thousands of staff hours and wasting precious appoint... <<Read More>>

Nicholson discusses NHS Commissioning Board

Study warns of impacts of GP-commissioning on children’s healthcare

The Health and Social Care Bill in its current form will be a “missed opportunity” to improve children’s healthcare, experts warn. The Government’s proposals fail to learn the lessons from... <<Read More>>

‘I’m not introducing more price competition’ - Lansley

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has denied he is introducing more price competition into the NHS. Asked directly whether he was or not, he told the BBC Hardtalk programme: “No. I’m introducing…strictly speaking I’m... <<Read More>>

Privatisation the ‘real agenda’ of health bill

Labour has accused the Government of burying a “privatisation” agenda for the NHS among more popular plans for GP-led commissioning. Shadow Health Secretary John Healey said the Coalition was “deliberately disguising the true purpose... <<Read more>>

Pathfinders identified to lead NHS reforms

The first groups of GPs who will take the lead in the Government’s plans for commissioning health services have been announced by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley. The 52 groups of GP practices from... <<Read more>>

Medical rehabilitation- more flexible commissioning needed, says report

A new report by the Royal College of Physicians and the British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine argues that the future of medical rehabilitation services hinges on more flexible commissioning arrangements. The report details... <<Read more>>

Government supports transparency debate

The Government has intervened to support the NHS Alliance’s call for a debate on transparency. The support came from Earl Howe, parliamentary under-secretary at the Department of Health, during a speech to the 13th NHS Alliance... <<Read more>>

NHS Alliance group gives response to white paper

The NHS Alliance GP Commissioning Federation has published a response to the government’s white paper on NHS reforms, welcoming many parts of it. The response focuses in the main on how to properly establish consortia and how those consortia can tackle issues...

Prominent organisations come together over GP Commissioning

The Centre for Public Scrutiny and the NHS Alliance have come together to release a paper on GP Commissioning. The paper, Towards transparent, inclusive and accountable GP Commissioning, has said that to be truly effective GP commissioning...

Healthcare watchdog to cross-check NHS performance as trusts make declarations on standards

The Healthcare Commission has said it will carry out a thorough check of the accuracy of NHS trusts’ declarations on how they have performed in meeting the government’s standards for healthcare...

NHS performance is improving, says Healthcare Commission

The Healthcare Commission has published performance ratings for all NHS trusts in England, showing overall improvement in quality of services and use of resources...

Achieving savings in commissioning controversy

After an unparalleled period of funding and growth, the NHS is now looking to make large scale efficiencies and one of the first places to start is the commissioning process. Richard Mackillican talks to Mike Ramsden

Commissioning is a controversial subject at the best of times but even those who espouse the value of commissioning in the NHS are saying that there is room for...

Coalition Government plans to hand real budgets to GPs ‘could help the NHS save money’

Plans to give GPs power and responsibility for holding real budgets and commissioning health services have the potential to help improve care, but will need time and careful design if they are to be successful.

That is the verdict of six national organisations that have joined forces to inform the Coalition Government’s aim of fully devolving commissioning power to GPs. They have published a new report...

The time to set up GP consortia is now

GP commissioners and PCTs should get their GP consortia up and running as soon as possible, according to Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance.

This was his message whilst addressing 180 future GP commissioning leaders in the North East, at the NHS Alliance/APEX North East PBC Regional Event. Delegates included GPs, practice managers, PBC leads, cluster managers, LMC members and PCT managers...

Weak role of GPs is undermining maternity care

GPs’ lack of involvement in maternity care is undermining the care of pregnant women and their families, according to a report published for The King’s Fund’s Inquiry into the Quality of General Practice in England.

GPs’ role in maternity care has all but disappeared over the past 30 years, with recent policy and guidance omitting any reference to their role in caring for pregnant women.

Under the terms of the new GP contract introduced in 2004...

Second year world class commissioning scores show significant improvement by PCTs 

Figures from the second year of the world class commissioning programme show major improvements have been made by primary care trusts  in strategic planning, financial control, engagement with local communities, and procurement and contracting skills.

An examination of the majority (146 out of 152 PCTs) of PCTs’ world class commissioning panel...

Sir David Nicholson sets out commissioning plan

The chief executive of the NHS has written to managers, laying out how he wants the transfer to GP Consortia led commissioning to unfold.