18/08/06 - Strategic commissioning: a state of readiness assessment

Working drafts of self assessment tools for PCTs are available in the areas of maternity services and services for children and young people. These are based on the PCT fitness for purpose programme, and highlight key priorities for commissioning services that meet local population requirements and address health inequalities.These drafts are being shared with trusts at this early stage so that they might build them into plans for performance managing and commissioning these services in a wide-ranging and complex area, as well as informing the design of new commissioning structure. Feedback is welcomed on the drafts, particularly in relation to the SHA performance indicators to be highlighted in column 4 of the tool. Revised versions are planned for the autumn, together with early drafts of the relevant sections of the Commissioning Framework.

(DH publications)