CCG’s CSU relationship ‘key risk’

NHS Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group’s risk register scores its relationship with its commissioning support unit as a key risk.

In a report presented to the July board meeting, the CCG’s chief officer Matt Walsh, says the CCG is meeting with NHS West and South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw CSU on a monthly basis to discuss finance, delivery and performance.

“The CCG risk register identifies the relationship with CSU as crucial, and CSU delivery has been scored as one of our key risks,” says the report.

“We have been working through a number of issues in relation to visibility and support.”

The CSU was rated 4/10 by the CCG in its last ‘client satisfaction’ score, and the “embedding of the new commissioning support arrangements,” is listed as one of Calderdale’s three ‘serious’ risks .

“I have asked that the CSU becomes more embedded and that the support which we are commissioning from them becomes more palpable within the organisation,” adds Walsh in the report.

“I have asked for a better response in relation to the support for delivery of our QIPP programme and specifically that learning and experience from other systems which they are supporting are fed in to Calderdale.”

The contractual arrangements with the CSU has now been established and Walsh adds that he is optimistic about its future working relationship and hopes to increase the rating of the CSU next time.

“I am pleased to say that the response to these requests has been positive and that there is a growing sense that the relationship can be made to work.”