Increasing Capacity Framework

Increasing Capacity Framework
NHS England 20 November 2020

• The Increasing Capacity Framework is designed to create a simple and efficient solution for those looking to procure a variety of clinical services from pre-approved providers. It allows a commissioner to put in place a contract with a Framework Provider by a direct award or by undertaking a mini competition. NHS England, Trusts and CCGs can use it to purchase additional elective acute services from a range of pre-approved providers at prices equivalent to or lower than those they usually pay. 
• Framework duration 20th November 2020 to 19th November 2022.

What next for integrated care systems? HSJ Intelligence briefing

What next for integrated care systems?

HSJ Intelligence briefing 12 February 2020 [Subscription required]

Extract:
Specialist commissioning

• NHS England is already in the process of devolving some of its specialised commissioning responsibilities for mental health to groups of NHS providers. It is looking at extending this approach to physical health services.
• The first contracts to be devolved to ICSs could be for kidney dialysis as well as parts of cancer treatment. However, ICSs are resistant to taking on these responsibilities until NHSE can quantify the need within the local populations, as otherwise it is felt the financial risk is too great.
• However, if this tension is to be resolved in 2020, it may need NHSE to initially share the financial risk with ICSs.
• In its 2020-21 planning guidance, NHSE announced its intention to review how payments for specialised commissioning are designed and implemented.
• It also now expects specialised commissioning income plans for ICSs to be closer aligned with NHSE specialised commissioning budgets. Local systems will likely have to change the way they deliver services to drive the specialised commissioning efficiencies needed.
• This may well see increased consolidation of specialised commissioning services on a reduced number of sites.

GIRFT - Ear,Nose and Throat Surgery

Ear,Nose and Throat Surgery
GIRFT 1 November 2019

• The GIRFT review of ENT services visited 126 units across the country. This report highlights a significant degree of unwarranted variation in a number of key areas in delivery of ENT surgery and suggests how the many examples of good practice in the delivery of ENT services could be adopted in order to improve patient care and outcomes.
• The report makes 23 recommendations ranging from increasing day case surgery, networks for out-of-hours provision, improve the procurement of devices and consumables, consider including Patient Reported Outcome Metrics (PROMs) for ENT and head and neck surgery and implement the GIRFT 5 point plan for reducing litigation costs.

NHS England procurement notices for specialised services

NHS England 2019/21 Specialised Services Contract Procurement
Official Journal of the European Union, 14 August 2018

• NHS England has published prior information notices in the for specialised services contracts across the country. The tenders are split into 20 different lots, across four regions, and total £7.6bn for the South of England, £10.8bn for London, £9.4bn for the Midlands and East and £862m for the North of England.
• Expressions of interest must be received by 14 September 2018.

STPs and planning: A perspective from specialised commissioning

STPs and planning: A perspective from specialised commissioning
Presentation by Vaughan Lewis to South East Clinical Senate April 2016

• An outline of Specialised Commissioning in NHS South, and direction of travel for new commissioning models.