Practice Based Commissioning Cluster Sophistication Index

(Published February 2007)

PBC Cluster Sophistication Index

The Practice Based Commissioning Cluster Sophistication Index, designed and scored by Health Direction Consultants is an exciting new development which complements the fully revised, industry standard PCO Sophistication Index.

Currently a key change in the NHS is the move to Practice Based Commissioning of services. This is generally happening by groups or clusters of practices joining together to start the commissioning process and redesign services. A key first focus is the stopping of unplanned/emergency admissions to hospitals which cost the NHS an enormous amount of money.

Pharmaceutical companies need to concentrate on the PBC Clusters that are at the forefront of service redevelopment. Health Direction have designed their PBC Generic Sophistication Index to pinpoint these movers and shakers.

They are identified by compiling a score for each cluster using up to 18 different criteria from the history of the PBC Cluster formation to the level of emergency admissions. The weighting given to each criteria are discussed and agreed with each client.

This generic or organisation effectiveness analysis is complemented by a disease specific analysis to create a 2 x 2 segmentation strategy, which is simple to understand and act upon but has objective, rigorous intelligence under the hood.

The new PCO and PBC Sophsitication Indexes have been delivered to three pharmaceutical companies in their first month of release and we would be happy to come and discuss how this unique offering could support your 2007 NHS market access and engagement strategy.

Northern Ireland Structure – February 2007 Update

At last, how Northern Ireland is planning to manage their health care system is becoming clear.

The key changes are:

• The 4 Health and Social Boards will be replaced by 1 Strategic Health and Social Services Authority
• The 15 Local Health and Social Care Groups will be abolished and replaced by 7 Local Commissioning Groups
• The 18 Trusts will be replaced by 5 Health and Social Services Trusts, with the Ambulance Service continuing as a separate Trust
• The 4 Health and Social Services Councils will be replaced by 1 Patient and Client Council

It has taken significant investigation by Lisa Hudson, our Northern Ireland specialist to understand the chronology of these headline changes so we hope the following will be of use!

Immediate Changes

Local Commissioning Groups (LCG) - in shadow form - have now replaced Local Health and Social Care Groups (LHSCGs) which stood down in September 2006. These won’t become fully operational until April 2008. In the interim, the four Health and Social Services Boards (H&SSB) are commissioning for the practices in Northern Ireland.

A joint committee of the four existing Health and Social Services Board has been set up to prepare for the beginning of local commissioning.

April 2007

Health and Social Services Trusts

The 18 trusts in Northern Ireland are replaced by 5 Health and Social Services Trusts, which have been shadowing the 18 Trusts since the end of 2006.

The five Health and Social Services Trusts are as follows:

• Western Area Trust - Chair; Gerard Guckian Chief Executive; Elaine Way
• Northern Area Trust - Chair; James Stewart Chief Executive; Norma Evans
• Southern Area Trust - Chair; Anne Balmer Chief Executive; Colm Donaghy
• Belfast Area Trust - Chair; Patrick McCartan Chief Executive; William Mckee CBE
• South Eastern Area Trust - Chair; Denise Fitzsimmons Chief Executive; John Compton

April 2008

Local Commissioning Groups

The seven Local Commissioning Groups assume full operational responsibility. They are co-terminus with the new local government boundaries and are as follows:

• Belfast LCG - coterminous with Belfast City Council
• North East LCG – coterminous with Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Larne and Moyle Councils
• Inner East LCG – coterminous with Antrim, Carrickfergus, Lisburn City and Newtownabbey Councils
• East LCG – coterminous with Ards, Castlereagh, Down and North Down Councils
• South LCG– Armagh City & District, Banbridge, Craigavon and Newry & Mourne Councils
• North West LCG – coterminous with Derry, Limavady, Magherafelt and Strabane Councils
• West LCG – coterminous with Cookstown, Dungannon & South Tyrone, Fermanagh and Omagh Councils

The Health and Social Services Authority (HSSA)

The Health and Social Services Authority assumes full operational responsibility from the four Health and Social Services Boards (Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern)

The role of the HSSA is to implement the Government’s policies for health and social services and to manage performance of the system. The HSSA will also work in conjunction with the local commissioning groups, to commission services in a two-way relationship, meeting the demands of patients.

David Sissling has been appointed the HSSA Chief Executive Designate and took up his post from August 2006.

In addition, the New Education and Skills Authority and statutory Education Advisory Forum become operational.