Last July the Health Select Committee announced an enquiry into commissioning in reaction to the publication of ‘Liberating the NHS’ White Paper. Since then the committee has been busy collating the sheer volume of responses to the consultation, hosting multiple evidence sessions as well as questioning the Secretary of State for Health on his plans for the reforms. So what conclusions have been drawn from this in-depth look at commissioning?

In the report the committee heavily criticises the government for shifting its policy on commissioning saying they do not believe the reforms represent the ‘most efficient way’ of delivering the objectives and the financial savings desperately needed within the NHS. In addition the report goes on to highlight the increased risks the new commissioning plans face alongside the ‘Nicholson Challenge’ of finding £20bn of efficiency savings and doing so ‘without setting out a credible plan for mitigating that risk’.

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Technorati Tags: commissioning, gp consortia, health care, health select committee, health select committee report into commissioning, healthcare services, pcts

The localism agenda is seen most prominently in the local government business plan as they are required to broaden their shoulders to carry the majority of requirements in delivering the big society. Greater autonomy in decision making and the reduction of centrally led control are seen in the business plans through the transfer of all Regional Development Agencies responsibilities by April 2012 and removal of other centrally imposed top down targets including those on housing. Reporting burdens to central departments are also reduced in plans to “develop a single, reduced, list of the data requirements placed on local government by central departments, working with other departments and local government”. Publication of financial data and central government data held on local authorities is a real opportunity for public and private organisations to access and use data to help with transforming service delivery and public engagement.

Devolution of responsibility is most relevant to the private sector in terms of the increased and less stringently regulated financial responsibilities local authorities will hold. Part of this is also achieved through transparency including the requirement to publish local government spending such as contracts and tenders above £500 as well as job titles and salaries for senior council officers by January 2011. In addition the creation of a Regional Growth Funds and Community budgets to move funding away from the centre and encourage private sector enterprise. Moving financial responsibility closer to local authorities together with the additional pressure for savings in light of the deficit provides a real opportunity for the private sector to demonstrate the potential of IT in delivering services and the supplementary efficiency savings that can be achieved through investment in the area.

Technorati Tags: Local Government