Commissioning and general practice

To inform its work, the Inquiry panel asked for a discussion paper to examine what good-quality commissioning looks like and how it can be measured. Improving the quality of GP commissioning services (442 kb) assesses the challenges commissioners face, identifies the factors and tools that are particularly relevant to commissioning effective general practice, and suggests what can be done to address weaknesses in general practice commissioning. The paper’s authors are Tim Jones, an independent consultant and Chief Officer, Newham Health Partnership, and Julie Wood, National Director, Clinical Commissioning Federation NHS Alliance.

Read the discussion paper and leave your comments below.

Key issues raised for debate include:

• The particular issues when commissioning GP services from a large number of independent general practice providers.
• How PCTs can best monitor general practice performance against contracts.
• What levers are available to commissioners when addressing the issue of variation in the quality of general practice care.
• The potential role of GP-led commissioning in driving quality improvement.

We’d like to get your views on how important you think general practice commissioning is to good-quality care. What do you feel about the key issues that have been raised as a result of the work we have done? Should high-quality commissioning be a priority? And do you think there are key points that have been overlooked in the debate? Your comments will help to inform the Inquiry’s final report.

Please share your views with us, and others, by leaving a comment below. However, if you’d prefer to comment privately please email gpinquiry@kingsfund.org.uk