World Class Commissioning Assurance Year 2 results published
The world class commissioning assurance process was designed to show individual Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) how effectively they commission services that focus on improving the health of their local population. The results outline each PCT’s strengths but also provide a clear path to help them improve.
More information on World Class Commissioning can be found by clicking here.
Results for NHS Bedfordshire can be found by clicking here
There has been an overall improvement in PCT commissioning with results in line with expectations but the pace of change has not been great enough. In the transition to GP-led commissioning, PCTs will have a key role to play in sharing best practice with GPs and ensure that they understand the challenges in their local area and the weaknesses in commissioning that need to be addressed.
Questions and answers to World Class Commissioning year two results
Why was there no national publication of results as originally committed to?The results outline each PCT’s strengths but also provide a clear path to help them improve the health of their local population. Local publication therefore ensures that learning can be applied where it matters, at a local level. In light of the White Paper published on Monday 12 July, which sets out the role of the new National Commissioning Board and responsibilities of GPs for commissioning, local publication of the results was thought to be more appropriate as we move towards clinically-led commissioning of services for local people.
Without a national calibration process, how can the process be robust and fair?Consistency and robustness of approach were key components throughout the assurance process, with the DH regularly engaging with SHAs to ensure that the assessment criteria were appropriately interpreted and applied across the country. Each SHA carried out regional calibration and results were compared at a national level to ensure fairness of approach.
Despite the move to GP commissioning in the future, PCTs will remain in control of finances in the interim. How did PCTs perform in terms of financial management and are they up to the immediate financial challenge?PCTs have an important role to play in the transition, sharing their learning with GPs and clearly identifying the challenges facing their local area.
The results from the second round of world class commissioning (WCC) assurance process show improvement by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in their commissioning capabilities. With increased demands on the NHS, and in particular financial constraints, some PCTs were expected to score reds or ambers in the three elements of governance (finance, strategy and board).
However, many have exceeded these expectations. Despite the strengthening of criteria for Year 2, many PCTs have achieved similar governance ratings to the first year, with the exception of the board element where the results show improvement.
If PCTs have performed well, why is commissioning being transferred to GPs?Although there has been improvement in scores since the first year of WCC assurance, commissioning has still been too remote from the patients it is intended to serve. In order to shift decision-making as close as possible to individual patients, the power and responsibility for commissioning services will be devolved to local consortia of GP practices. Primary care professionals will coordinate all the services that patients receive, helping them to navigate the system and ensure that they get the best care. For this reason, they are best placed to carry out the commissioning of care for their patients, involving all other clinical professionals who are also part of any pathway of care. Transferring commissioning responsibility to GPs will ensure that clinical considerations and the needs of patients are at the heart of all commissioning decisions, ensuring that money is spent in the right way for local populations.
PCTs will have an important role to play in the transition, sharing their learning with GPs and clearly identifying the challenges facing their local area.
What plans are there to continue WCC assurance?There are no plans to continue with ‘World Class Commissioning’. Effective commissioning is a clear priority for the Government and consideration is being given to what action is required by the DH and NHS to support the process as we move towards GP-led commissioning.
Will GPs be subject to commissioning assurance?The Government’s White Paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS, published on 12 July, set out the intentions in relation to GP commissioning. The White Paper also highlighted that a further document setting out the proposals on GP commissioning in more detail would shortly be issued to provide the basis for fuller engagement. Further details will be developed in light of this engagement process and following extensive discussions with stakeholders in the NHS and more widely.