National Association of Primary Care - Future Direction

Practice Based Commissioning & PCT Reconfiguration

Since the introduction of the document ‘Commissioning a Patient-led NHS’ the Department of Health has set up five task forces to work on the details of its implementation. Each task force is led by an SHA Chief Executive with NHS and DH involvement on the groups. The NAPC intends to exert its influence in the relevant areas. The 5 groups are:

1. Commissioning Implementation

• Vision and defining success including roles and functions
• PCT provision and contestability

2. Commissioning Capability and HR

• Leadership
• Organisational development
• HR process

3. Commissioning in partnership

• Links with public health, social care, local authorities and government offices of the region

4. Financial Benefits

• Freeing up £250 million for patient care

5. Public process

• Consultation and Legislation.

The reconfigurations announced in the July document will be made available to invest in local health economies, principally cancer and palliative care, rather than through a centrally determined reallocation of funds.

White Paper On Healthcare Outside of Hospitals
Five task forces comprising the most influential people in the health sector have begun work on feeding their ideas into the forthcoming white paper on healthcare outside of hospitals.

The policy groups will each meet three times before feeding their ideas to civil servants writing the paper which will be published at the turn of the year. NAPC will again exert its influence on these groups

Each group has been asked to develop ‘robust new policy proposals for the following areas:

• Making my life easier
• The people in my life
• My Life My Choices
• Having my say
• Maintaining my independence and personal dignity

Group chairs have been told to take into account the views of the public on the future of primary and social care, as will unfold during the public consultation taking place this autumn.