Evidence-based commissioning in the English NHS

"This paper investigates the types of evidence (empirical or practical) used to make commissioning decisions in Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England."

Evidence-based commissioning in the English NHS: who uses which sources of evidence? A survey 2010/2011
A Clarke, S Taylor-Phillips, J Swan, E Gkerekdakis, P Mills, J Powell, D Nicolini, C Roginski, H Scarbrough, A Grove
BMJ Open, 2013, 3:e002714

Read more here.

Read a summary from the Commissioning Elf here.

Setting priorities in health

"The research reported here demonstrates that PCTs have made significant progress in establishing priority-setting processes and, although there are some key weaknesses from which we can learn, they have used many different methods, procedures and processes in seeking to prioritise health needs."

Setting priorities in health: a study of English primary care trusts
S Robinson, H Dickinson, Iestyn Williams, T Freeman, B Rumbold, K Spence
Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham and the Nuffield Trust
September 2011

Read more here.

The legacy of Primary Care Trusts

"This paper sets out a considered assessment of the performance of PCTs since their establishment."

The legacy of Primary Care Trusts
Primary Care Network
NHS Confederation
June 2011

Read more here.

Reducing expenditure on low clinical value treatments

"This briefing looks at primary care trusts'(PCTs) spending on low clinical value treatments and how some PCTs have successfully reduced their spending in this area."

Reducing expenditure on low clinical value treatments: a health briefing
Audit Commission
April 2011

Read a summary or download the full version here.