Leaders in clinically-led commissioning meet

Key questions on how to provide collaborative leadership will be high on the agenda at today’s Clinical Commissioning Summit, a joint event organised by the RCGP Centre for Commissioning, the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges and the Health Foundation.

Representatives from the Medical Royal Colleges, other professional clinical associations, patient groups and primary care professional bodies will use the Summit to identify issues which underpin clinical commissioning and joint working.

It is the first meeting of its kind, and an opportunity for more than 120 participants to address ways to develop a shared understanding of clinical commissioning between the different clinical specialties and provide leadership and guidance in developing the effective partnerships and collaborations that will achieve effective clinical commissioning within local communities.

Chaired by Professor Sir Neil Douglas, Chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and RCGP Chair Dr Clare Gerada, the joint Summit will also have keynote speeches from Professor Steve Field, Chair of the Future Forum, who will provide an overview of clinical commissioning, and Professor Martin Marshall from the Health Foundation, who will address the challenges facing clinical commissioning.

The summit will give delegates the opportunity to explore key issues in regard to clinical commissioning, including the role of Clinical Senates, commissioning to deliver the Outcomes Framework, working with Health and Wellbeing Boards, handling conflicts of interest and the role to be played by professional bodies.

In the longer term, the event will lead to the development of a strategy and a series of associated initiatives to support GPs and other clinicians in clinically-led commissioning.

RCGP Chair, Dr Clare Gerada said, ‘This is an extremely important and exciting event that brings together some of the most important people involved in delivering in this new world of clinically-led commissioning.

‘It’s a year since the RCGP established its Centre for Commissioning in recognition of the magnitude of the change – we recognise the commissioning of healthcare services will require close partnerships between GPs, our secondary care and social care colleagues and the third sector, as well as with our patients and see this event as a pivotal step towards making that a reality.’

Chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Professor Sir Neil Douglas said, ‘Liberating the NHS promoted clinical leadership in the NHS. This event shows clinicians taking that lead and coming together across all professions to consider how clinical commissioning can work in practice for the benefit of patients. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has argued for wider clinical involvement in commissioning and now we are helping make that a reality.

‘If clinical commissioning is to be effective it will require GPs to work collaboratively with secondary care doctors, other clinicians and public health professionals. This summit is an example of that happening in practice. I am sure the output from this work will help shape commissioning in a positive way.’

Professor Martin Marshall, Clinical Director and Director of Research and Development at the Health Foundation said, ‘This event allows healthcare professionals to work together to develop a shared understanding about how clinical commissioning will take place in practice. We will be considering some of the key challenges, including how clinical commissioners will balance quality and cost and how they can use the commissioning process to improve the quality of health services.’

Further information:

RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7580

Out of hours: 020 3188 7659

press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors:

The RCGP Centre for Commissioning

The RCGP Centre for Commissioning  was launched in December 2010 as a partnership between the RCGP and the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. It equips GPs and their practice teams with the skills, competencies and expertise required to deliver effective healthcare commissioning which ensures patient-focused, safe, high quality healthcare and improved local health outcomes.

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of over 42,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC)

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ role is to promote, facilitate and where appropriate, co-ordinate the work of Medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties for the benefit of patients and healthcare. The Academy comprises the Presidents of the Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties who meet regularly to agree direction.

The Health Foundation

The Health Foundation is an independent charity working to continuously improve the quality of healthcare in the UK. We are here to inspire and create the space for people to make lasting improvements to health services. Working at every level of the system, we aim to develop the technical skills, leadership, capacity and knowledge, and build the will for change, to secure lasting improvements to healthcare.