NHS Alliance launches new website to support commissioning

Released: 12/08/2011

NHS Alliance is today launching Achieving Commissioning Excellence (www.nhsace.com) – a new website to support the development of clinical commissioning.

Achieving Commissioning Excellence will offer a range of resources for those involved in commissioning, including:

 ·         interactive online Q&A sessions with commissioning leaders;

·         regular interviews with key people in the field of commission;

·         monthly round-up of commissioning-related news;

·         original resources and signposts to relevant publications by other organisations, and

·         forum for discussion of topical issues.

For the launch Achieving Commissioning Excellence has interviewed Dame Barbara Hakin, general director of commissioning at the Department of Health; health economist Professor John Appleby of the King’s Fund and Stephen Dorrell MP, chair of the Commons Health Select Committee and former Health Secretary.

Julie Wood, NHS Alliance national lead for clinical commissioning, said: “Since its inception, the NHS Alliance has been a consistent champion of locally-driven, clinically-led commissioning, which has been the Promised Land for the NHS for over two decades now. Yet, all too often, that promise has been accompanied by crossed fingers behind the system’s back. As the NHS faces ‘The Nicholson Challenge’ of £4 billion annual efficiency and productivity gains over the coming four financial years, clinically-led commissioning has become more crucial than ever before.

“We created this site for leaders and practitioners of clinical commissioning. We look forward to supporting all those who work in this field with a high-quality and interactive online resource.”

Ends.

Notes to editors:

1.    NHS Alliance brings together GP consortia, PCTs, clinicians and managers as the leading organisation in primary care. We are an independent non-political membership organisation proud to be at the forefront of clinically-led commissioning. Its leaders are all dedicated professionals, who represent the Alliance’s diverse membership, working ceaselessly to meet the challenges facing the NHS today. Find out more at www.nhsalliance.org

 2.    For further details about Achieving Commissioning Excellence, please contact editor Andy Cowper via editorial@nhsace.com or 07736 037552.