Local health care commissioning needs better technology

IT suppliers are calling for a debate on the future of health care commissioning.

The move follows the Department of Health's launch of its public consultation on proposals - as first laid out in the white paper, 'Liberating the NHS', that gives greater detail on its move to hand over commissioning responsibilities from Primary Care Trusts to local groups of GPs.

Under the plans, groups of primary care practitioners will lead commissioning consortia and thereby play a key role in the clinical design of local services, working hand-in-hand with a wide spectrum of other healthcare professionals to ensure that commissioning decisions genuinely reflect local needs.

Intellect, the UK technology trade association, says that technology solutions such as data mining, reporting services, standardisation and integration - and resource capacity - will play a decisive role.

Jeremy Nettle, chair of Intellect's Healthcare Council said, "Through better use of information and technology commissioning has the potential to drive up quality by assessing needs accurately and defining standards of performance.

"The operation of the commissioning function depends heavily on good information and timely communication. By making improved use of proven supplier capabilities the NHS can accelerate the development of commissioning capabilities. Technology is available today to support the patient to participate and select which healthcare services best support their needs."

Intellect is inviting interested parties to contribute to the debate on the future of care commissioning to identify practical steps that can be taken to improve commissioning in England.

To download Intellect's perspective on the challenges facing care commissioning in England:

http://www.intellectuk.org/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_download/gid,4465/Itemid,102/

For the DoH consultation go to http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_117587