Specialised commissioning: Are we getting best value from £14.5bn?

"Specialised commissioning costs the NHS billions each year. HSJ gathered experts to tackle some difficult questions, not least over the balance between central and local involvement."

Specialised commissioning: Are we getting best value from £14.5bn?
A Moore
Health Service Journal Supplement
June 2015

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Organisational features and patient outcomes in congenital heart disease services

"Overall, we found a substantial number of studies reporting a positive relationship between volume and outcome, particularly for highly complex cases. However, the complexity of the evidence requires careful interpretation."

What evidence is there for a relationship between organisational features and patient outcomes in congenital heart disease services? A rapid review. 

J Turner, L Preston, A Booth, C O’Keeffe, F Campbell, A Jesurasa, K Cooper, E Goyder 

School for Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield

2014

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Prescribed specialised services advisory group: recommendations to ministers

"This report sets out the recommendations that the Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group made at its meetings of 3 September 2013 and 17 September 2013 on the services to be directly commissioned by NHS England." 

Prescribed specialised services advisory group: recommendations to ministers 

Department of Health

May 2014

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Specialised commissioning: policies and policy statements

In its role as the direct commissioner of specialised services, NHS England has published the 8 clinical commissioning policies and policy statements:

1. Stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy for glomus tumours
2. Radiosurgery/radiotherapy for cavernous venous malformations
3. Stereotactic radiosurgery, radiotherapy for ocular melanoma and pituitary adenoma
4. Eculizumab for atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome
5. Rituximab for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus in adults
6. Use of Plerixafor for stem cell mobilisation
7. Stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy for meningioma
8. Stribild for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults

Access them all here.

NHS England publishes generic commissioning policies

"NHS England has published a number of interim generic policies, ensuring fair and consistent decision-making across its direct commissioning function. The 14 policies cover all aspects of NHS England’s direct commissioning responsibilities including specialised services, primary care, screening, military and offender health."

Access the policies here.

Clinical policies and statements for specialised services commissioning

"These new clinical commissioning policies underpin the commissioning of specialised services. They are important in clearly defining what NHS England expects to be in place for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services and importantly, sets equitable access to services across the country."

Access the clinical commissioning policies here.