16.12.16
NHSE links £100m extra vanguard funding to STP implementation
New partnerships designed to improve health outcomes will receive an additional £101m funding after their initial success, NHS England announced today. However, it comes with a number of conditions, including implementing new care models (NCM) across STP footprints.
The funding will help spread the work of the NCM vanguards, which bring together local government, NHS and charity organisations to deliver more integrated care and efficient spending.
In addition to money, NHS England will provide support in using new technology and organising the workforce.
Samantha Jones, director of the NCM Programme, said: “The vanguards are making great progress and have already made a tangible impact on the lives of patients and the working lives of staff. 2017-18 is a crucial year for the vanguards, in particular how we further spread their work across the wider NHS and care services.
“This funding, as well as the support we offer to them, will help them to continue to move at pace.”
The total funding allocated matches that of 2016-17 and will be matched by funds and resources from the vanguards themselves. In order to secure the funding, vanguards will have to meet a number of conditions, including implementing their NCMs within and across STP footprints and producing guidance and materials for others to use. They will also have to implement their published care model frameworks.
Examples of successful vanguard programmes include:
- Flyde Coast Local Health Economy, which has created an ‘extensive care service’ to support older patients with multiple conditions, resulting in a 37% reduction in hospital visits.
- Mid-Nottinghamshire Better Together, which has established community teams to help patients stay at home in Nottinghamshire, leading to a 20.5% reduction in hospital attendances for patients over 80.
- East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which has eliminated 1,015 unnecessary medicine prescriptions in care homes after conducting a review.
- East Midlands Radiology Consortium, which allowed seven local hospitals to save £30m a year through joint procurement of a radiology record.
Dr Amanda Doyle GP, Fylde Coast Local Health Economy vanguard said: “We are very pleased with the changes we have made to the care provided to people living on the Fylde Coast. As well as involving patients and local people more in the way services are provided, we’ve cut the number needing to use local A&E services or be admitted to hospital. We’ve also taken pressure off our GP services.”
Chris Hopson of NHS Providers warned recently that the 44 STP footprints are at risk of ‘blowing up’ because of a shortage in funding. The controversial plans, which include service redesigns and closures, have also come under severe criticism for failing to include all stakeholders in their development, with some not being backed by local authorities in their area.
Recently, Jim Mackey, the CEO of NHS Improvement, stated that despite STPs requesting more short-term investment to transform services in their area, he is yet to see a business case that would see the regulator get its money back.
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