Summary
The NHS Commissioning Board has published frequently asked questions on the Operating model for commissioning specialised services 2013/14. The aim is to improve outcomes for patients whilst reducing inconsistency and duplication in the system.
Reference
NHS Commissioning Board (2012). Securing equity and excellence in commissioning specialised services: the operating model and commissioning intentions 2013/14. Frequently asked questions. London: NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB), November 2012.
Operating Model for Commissioning Specialised Services
Having mastered the FAQs, readers may wish to progress to the NHS Commissioning Board’s full report explaining the new operating model for commissioning specialised services. The number of patients receiving specialised services is small, so services will be located in specialist centres in major towns and cities across England. Concentrated services providing the same national standards of quality should ensure that specialist staff can be recruited with the necessary levels of training. The new operating model for commissioning specialised services, and the associated commissioning intentions, represents move away from regional commissioning towards a unified national approach to their commissioning and contracting.
Reference
NHS Commissioning Board (2012). Securing equity and excellence in commissioning specialised services: the operating model and commissioning intentions 2013/14. London: NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB); Specialised Services Commissioning Transition Team, November 2012.
See also, the explanation of commissioning intentions:
Reference
NHS Commissioning Board (2012). Prescribed specialised services: commissioning intentions for 2013/14. London: NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB); Specialised Services Commissioning Transition Team, November 2012.
[A brief reference to this item features in Dementia and Elderly Care: the Latest Evidence Newsletter (RWNHST), Volume 3 Issue 5, January 2013].