• NHS England and NHS Improvement said they will publish joint planning guidance in September
  • Report says it is vital to “move on swiftly” with operating plans to deliver on the visions outlined in each area’s STP
  • The 44 areas are aiming to finalise their plans by October

Local NHS organisations will be expected to agree two-year operational plans by the end of December, national leaders have said.

A report published by NHS England and NHS Improvement on Thursday said they would help this process by releasing joint planning guidance in September, three months earlier than last year.

The report has been published as part of the “financial reset” for the health service, and says it is vital to “move on swiftly” with operating plans to deliver on the visions outlined in each area’s sustainability and transformation plan.

The 44 STP areas are aiming to finalise their plans by October.

The report said the plans will form the starting point for “two-year, organisation level operating plans for 2017/18 and 2018/19”. Previously NHS organisations have generally worked to one-year operational plans.

The regulators said the new timeline would help provide “certainty and stability for a two-year planning and contracting cycle”, via early publication of a national tariff, CQUIN framework, NHS standard contract and other key documents.

The report adds: “Thus, as we move into 2017, organisations will be able to focus single mindedly on delivery of the next two years of their STPs, building on the solid financial foundation created through our joint actions in 2016.”

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