The NHS Operating Framework 2012-13 is available here.
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The CCG annual management cost allowance will be £25 per unweighted head of population "before any entitlement to a quality premium" (no detail on which is offered), and the NHS Alliance/NAPC discussion document formula of viability beginning at 100,000 population is being accepted. The OF adds that “as far as possible CCGs should be coterminous with a single local health and wellbeing board”, reinforcing the presumption against crossing local authority boundaries.
A few quick thoughts (further analysis is to follow):
1. In the live streaming of presentations at the CEs' conference, Comdare Sir David Nicholson made much mention of the "spread" of good practice. The word 'Stalinism' is henceforth to be substituted by the word 'spread'.
2. In the OF appendix, Labour policy adviser Joe Farrington-Douglas points out that there is a new target to increase the "Trend in value/volume of patients being treated at non-NHS hospitals": see the table on page 49.
It also contradicts the Bill as to patient choice and the NHS Commissioning Board: "The Board must, in the exercise of its unctions, act with a view to enabling patients to make choices with respect to aspects of health services provided to them" (page 18).
I mean, you wouldn't want a DH policy target that was going to involve breaking the law. Would you?
3. Commissioning support must be "commercially viable, customer focused and develop distinctly" from PCT clusters in 2012-13. This is very curious. And very un-defined. PCT staff will feel wonderfully reassured.