NHS Blackburn with Darwen is participating in a North West regional programme to establish a framework agreement with care homes for the provision of continuing healthcare [CHC] services.
In Blackburn with Darwen, there is an extra dimension to this review as we are a Care Trust Plus commissioning both health and social care.
This means services commissioned for people assessed as being eligible to receive Care Trust Plus funded social care will also be reviewed as part of this process.
The NHS Continuing Healthcare and Social Care Services (Responsibilities) Directions 2009 place a clear responsibility on the Primary Care Trust [PCTs] to determine the eligibility of people who may have an ongoing primary healthcare need.
Eligibility carries with it the obligation for the Care Trust Plus to fully fund provision of both health and personal care needs as determined by a multi-disciplinary assessment as far as is reasonable and affordable.
At the beginning of 2010, NHS North West, the Strategic Health Authority agreed to provide resources for one year to support a collaborative programme across the North West to assist PCTs to improve the way in which services are commissioned for people assessed as being eligible to receive CHC.
Work was undertaken to analyse the healthcare market, review existing commissioning and contracting arrangements, review spending and consider future demand for CHC services.
Agreement was reached across all 24 North West PCTs to collaboratively develop standard service specification and quality standards. A common approach to pricing was also agreed and a NW commercial strategy developed to establish standard NHS contracts with all CHC providers to ensure consistency of expectations around quality and obtain pre-agreed pricing transparency.
Patient and public engagement activities took place across the North West with a range of stakeholders re: issues including quality of service, quality of life and patient choice.
This resulted in a series of commissioning recommendations, which have been included in the development of the service specification and quality standards now being shared with care homes through the current procurement process.
The key outcomes expected through this programme include: evidence of promotion of equitable patient choice; patient/carer satisfaction; improved quality outcomes; quality which is defined and assured; pricing transparency; demonstrated value for money; controlled and reduced expenditure.
New contracts between the Care Trust Plus and care homes are expected from May 2011.
If you have any queries re: these programmes please contact David Brownlow NW Programme Lead, Continuing Healthcare: Market Management via david.brownlow@northlancs.nhs.uk.
