Mark Britnell announces changes to commissioning framework

Speaking at the conference, NHS director general for commissioning and system management Mark Britnell revealed that the timeframe for procuring services using the framework would be cut from 26 weeks to four and a half weeks.

The Department of Health is keen to ensure FESC governance is "proportionate" and that using the framework does not become an unnecessarily onerous process.

Mr Britnell said commissioning required "pace, purpose and passion" and that primary care trusts would be expected to focus on commissioning quality outcomes.

He said health minister Lord Darzi's imminent review would bring "specific detail" about how the service would "deepen its professional commitment to NHS staff" and "unleash some of the power" patients would expect and demand.

Highlighting improvements to access in primary care, he said: "If things cut up rough, the best thing for PCTs to do is not to walk away from their populations but to walk towards them."

He also said PCTs would be expected to plan for longer-term goals.

"Targets are important, but it's quite right and proper that the diseases that your populations face in this day and age don't respond to annual fiscal cycles," he said.

"We're asking PCTs to plan strategically for three to five years and put their money where their ambition is."

And he signalled that world class commissioning would be a long-term commitment for the department.

He said: "We are trying to build a system that is so good it transcends political cycles."

He warned that the NHS of the next 60 years would be "judged by its ability to respond to the needs of individuals", but added: "I genuinely believe the work we've been doing through the Department of Health and the NHS is starting to look pretty impressive."

HSJ's Delivering World Class Commissioning conference is on 10 July.

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