New information tools promised for commissioning

The Department of Health is to develop new technology systems over the next year, to help commissioners achieve the goals of its world class commissioning framework. 

In its ‘Our vision for Primary and Community Care’ report, published as part of the next stage review of the NHS, the DH pledges to “enhance the range of support and development available to transform their skills in commissioning.’

 This includes encouraging PCTs to use predictive modelling and risk satisfaction tools to profile the needs of different segments of local communities. These would be similar to simulation tools currently made available to Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) by Humana.

Guidance will also be provided on datasets to allow commissioners to collect, analyse and publish information on performance against quality criteria. PCTs will then be able to break this data down into categories such as age, ethnicity and disability.

“Comparative quality information of this kind will help primary care clinicians understand and compare different areas for improvement. Publication of data will also provide much greater transparency about the quality of local services and support the public in making more informed choices about which services to use,” the report says.

The DH’s national director for primary care, Professor David Colin-Thomé, told a press conference, yesterday: “We have the best commissioning in the world and using information to support the goals of each individual PCT will help ensure they are offering the best care possible, and the patient can be assured they are getting good quality service.”

The DH also pledges to ensure that community health service commissioners are supported in choosing the services they offer to meet the needs of its patients.

New information tools to compare clinical quality, productivity and patient experience of care are to be piloted to support the community health services with their participation in the world class commissioning programme. The exact nature of the tools are not identified in the report.

It says: “We will work to support the NHS in applying the principles of the world class commissioning programme to community health services. This will begin by ensuring that commissioning is informed by joint strategic needs assessments.

“We will develop and pilot from next year a set of metrics and currencies that commissioners and providers can use to measure quality, clinical productivity and patient experience. The ultimate aim of this work is to make the best use of professional skills and resources and free up more time for direct patient care,” it adds.

David Stout, director of the PCT Network at the NHS Confederation, said: “As world class commissioners, PCTs will work with local clinicians to foster innovation, reduce health inequalities and drive up standards of care in primary and community services.”

Links

Our Vision for Primary and Community Care