Monday 20 December 2010

NHS Outcomes Framework

The first NHS outcomes framework sets out the outcomes and corresponding indicators that will be used to hold the NHS Commissioning Board to account for the outcomes it delivers through commissioning health services from 2012/13.

Read more here.

Thursday 16 December 2010

Quality:MK - supporting GP Consortia development

This website, developed by NHS Milton Keynes, links you to information and resources brought together by NHS Milton Keynes to support the development of GP Consortia. It is regularly updated  on the development of the consortia, and key projects including referrals management and prescribing.

NHS Evidence QIPP

NHS Evidence – QIPP is a collection of evidence to support quality and productivity at a local level. Launched in December 2009, the collection provides users with real examples of how staff are improving quality and productivity across the NHS and social care, and Cochrane topics drawn from systematic reviews by the Cochrane Collaboration that may help to inform local initiatives to address the quality and productivity challenge.

Managing the transition and the 2011/12 Operating Framework

"This letter provides an update in light of the publication of the government's formal response to the White Paper consultation and the publication today of the 2011/12 NHS Operating Framework."

Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS - Managing the transition and the 2011/12 Operating Framework
Department of Health
December 2010

Read more here.

The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011/12

"...this NHS Operating Framework sets out how we will maintain tight financial control during 2011/12."

The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011/12
Department of Health
December 2010

Read more here.

Wednesday 15 December 2010

Clinical responses to the downturn

"Seven medical specialties address how they can help tackle the NHS financial challenge."

This report examines how to release NHS resources across the seven specialties of:
  • neurosurgery
  • geriatrics
  • vascular services
  • pathology
  • orthopaedics
  • neonatology 
  • dermatology

Clinical responses to the downturn
NHS Confederation - in partnership with British Medical Association, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and The Joint Medical Consultative Council
December 2010

Read more here.

The Health Foundation

In the past year, The Health Foundation has published a number of relevant papers:

Mental health and the productivity challenge

"Mental health accounts for 12 per cent of the commissioning budgets of primary care trusts (PCTs) and will need to play its part in responding to the financial challenge."

Mental health and the productivity challenge: improving quality and value for money
C Naylor, A Bell
The King's Fund
December 2010

Read more here.

Incentivising wellness

"Hospital utilisation for long-term conditions should be reduced by 20% over the next five years."

Incentivising wellness: improving the treatment of long-term conditions
H Featherstone, L Whitham
Policy Exchange
November 2010

Read more here.

Friday 10 December 2010

Putting the value framework to work

"'Value' is a word that has long aroused skepticism among physicians, who suspect it of being code for 'cost reduction'."

Putting the value framework to work
TH Lee
New England Journal of Medicine, 8th December 2010

Read more here.

Measuring health outcomes: the outcome hierarchy

"Measuring, reporting, and comparing outcomes is perhaps the most important step toward unlocking rapid outcome improvement and making good choices about reducing costs."

This framework paper is Supplementary Appendix 2 to Porter ME. What is value in health care? N Engl J Med 2010; 363:2477-81

Read more here.

Value in health care

"Value should be the preeminent goal in the health care system, because it is what ultimately matters for customers (patients) and unites the interest of all system actors."

This framework paper is Supplementary Appendix 1 to Porter ME. What is value in health care? N Engl J Med 2010; 363:2477-81

Read more here.

What is value in health care?

"Achieving high value for patients must become the overarching goal of health care delivery, with value defined as the health outcomes achieved per dollar spent."

What is value in health care?
M.E. Porter
The New England Journal of Medicine 8th December 2010

Read more here.