Lord Darzi’s NHS Next Stage Review encouraged the separation of PCT’s commissioning and provider functions. The review also required PCTs to support greater choice and contestability of service provision in primary and community health services and greater service integration through practice based commissioning initiatives and the emerging Integrated Care Organisations. A range of new organisational models are now possible for community health services, including community foundation trusts, social enterprises, integration with other providers, such as local authority social services or acute trusts.
Last December the Department launched the new ‘right to request’ guidance for aspiring providers, and in January new guidance ‘Transforming Community Services – Enabling new patterns of provision’ which now provides a clear route map for separation of commissioning and provider functions and a step towards a more diverse market of suppliers.
Raising the quality of health and social care services through the introduction of competition and choice is a key goal of Government. There is much work to be done to create the right market conditions to encourage and empower new providers to emerge and flourish. The timetable for implementing the first stage is ambitious – October 2009 is the key date for establishing a plan for provider services. There are likely to be many new opportunities for partnerships and joint ventures in the coming months.
In this mini survey we set out to test how PCTs are progressing with this agenda and what challenges and issues they are encountering along the way. I hope you find it an interesting snapshot of progress so far.
TPP Law is actively involved in supporting PCTs, health and social care teams, managers and outsourced providers to develop new governance structures, partnerships and provider models. We would be delighted to discuss the options with you.
