Word Class Commissioning

World Class Commissioning (WCC) - adding years to life and life to years


The Department of Health's World Class Commissioning (WCC) programme aims to dramatically transform the way  health and care services are commissioned in this country. By strengthening commissioning capability, the Department of Health proposes to deliver better health and well-being for all, better care for all and better value for all.  World class commissioning will deliver a more strategic and long-term approach to commissioning services, with a clear focus on delivering improved health outcomes. There are four key elements to the programme; a vision for world class commissioning, a set of world class commissioning competencies, an assurance system and a support and development framework.   Please click here for full details of what WCC entails.


WCC - High Quality Care for All - Primary Care and Community Services - Improving Eye Health Services

The  Department of Health published this document   in July 2009 to provide practical advice on how PCTs can assess their current performance; identify their vision for the future and commission services that meet the needs of their local communities.   Its target audience, in addition to PCTs, is SHAs and Directors of Commissioning. You can view a film of extracts from the launch of the document by Leslie Anne Alexander, the RNIB Chief Executive, with comments from Trevor Warburton, Chairman of LOCSU Clinical Advisory Group on Ot.tv



LOCs/ROCs and World Class Commissioning

World Class Commissioning (WCC) is a fairly new term but it represents a major change in the way that services are commissioned. It is essential that you understand the reasoning behind WCC and use that reasoning in developing your business strategies. In the past, services tended to be commissioned as they always had been, simply because that was the custom. Then there came a time of questioning whether those ways of delivering care were really the best way, but again the methodology was still very much driven by tradition and reducing costs and waiting lists.   World Class Commissioning signifies a departure from that way of doing things. It is based on a very simple quote, all about "adding life to years and years to life. Better health and well being for all, better care for all and better value for all".


Opportunities for Optometry

This new approach presents so many opportunities to optometry when considering new ways of delivering services. Many of these considerations may move the profession away from the usual "sight testing" role but would very much fit in with the role of optometry being part of the front line for primary care services.

PCTs will be required to develop innovative partnerships with clinicians and providers as well as patients, general members of the public and local authorities, in order to achieve their aims. By developing closer links with all the service providers, they will be able to meet longer term priorities, thereby shifting the focus of care from the traditional stance of diagnosis and treatment to one of prevention and well being.

This aspiration fits extraordinarily well with what optometrist can offer in modern primary care services and is, in fact, nothing new to most practitioners. World Class Commissioning states that clinical involvement will be a key to success. It acknowledges that clinicians have an important role to play in assessing local needs and shaping priorities because clinicians understanding patient needs. They will, therefore, be crucial to designing high quality, personalised health and care services. This is where it will be vital for optometrists to form close links with their PBC groups, for it is within those groups that the decisions on commissioned services are taken.

Competencies in World Class Commissioning

Currently, many PCT commissioners are going through training to ensure that their PCT can meet the requirements of World Class Commissioning. You can, therefore, be assured you will not be met by blank faces when you start using WCC terminology. In fact you may well be pleasantly surprised to find you could well be ahead of the game.

When trained, these world class commissioners will have to be able to achieve results against a set of competencies:

  • locally lead the NHS
  • work with community partners
  • engage with public and patients
  • collaborate with clinicians
  • manage knowledge and assess needs
  • prioritise investment
  • stimulate the market
  • promote improvement and innovation
  • secure procurement skills
  • manage the local health system
  • make sound financial investments


With these competencies in mind, make yourself familiar with what drives commissioners locally. Why not encourage the LOC to invite a lead commissioner to come and present at a meeting of local optometrists on their role as a commissioner? You could then find out what they really expect of you. Involve them in your planning processes. You may well be amazed how much useful information you can gain, both in terms of vital local statistical information and also in terms of information about rival systems being proposed.


The LOC Support Unit can assist LOCs in developing both   'commissioner' and 'provider' business cases.

  

  

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