Clinical commissioning groups are expected to fund a 2.3 per cent increase in emergency activity this year compared to 2014-15, NHS England has confirmed.
- CCGs expected to fund 2.3pc increase in emergency activity and 2.7pc rise in elective work
- NHS England says majority of contracts now reflect predicted growth in demand
- Commissioners had been concernced about impact on non-acute services
The organisation is also expecting a 2.7 growth in elective activity.
A performance report, published ahead of NHS England’s board meeting on Thursday, says: “Finalised operational plans were submitted on 27 May 2015. In total, the plans expect to deliver 6.8m spells of elective care (in-patient and day case), amounting to 2.7 per cent more than in 2014-15.
“For non-elective care a total of 5.6m additional spells have been commissioned, which amounts to growth of 2.3 per cent from 2014-15 levels.”
The paper adds that a review by NHS England’s regional teams “has indicated that the vast majority of signed contracts reflected the levels of activity commissioners required”.
“In some areas where capacity constraints exist, commissioners and providers are working together to secure good alternative local provision from the full range of available providers.”
NHS England previously said in May that it expected CCG funded hospital activity to rise by between 2 and 3 per cent compared to 2013-14, which was “considerably north” of commissioners’ initial plans for this year. This prompted concern that this could undermine non-acute services that are intended to reduce emergency admissions.
Letters seen by HSJ last month revealed how NHS England ordered CCGs in the South to change their contracts with acute providers to reflect an assumption that hospital activity would grow this year.
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