Independent provider bulletin: October 2015
Published 29 October 2015
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2015
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1. For action
1.1 Chief executives and chief finance officers: who is authorised to respond to the 2016/17 national tariff statutory consultation for you?
Each provider organisation that either has an NHS licence or delivers nationally priced NHS services is able to accept or reject the tariff proposals for 2016/17 by nominating a single respondent.
We’ll send this authorised responder a copy of the national tariff statutory consultation and they will be the only person who is able to respond on behalf of your organisation.
Emails have now been sent to all organisations, please either respond or, if you haven’t received the request, contact j.denson@monitor.gov.uk.
2. For information
2.1 Chief Executive of NHS Improvement announced
Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, has been appointed as NHS Improvement’s Chief Executive. He will be in post full time as Chief Executive of Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority and Chief Executive Designate of NHS Improvement from 1 November 2015.
NHS Improvement is being formed to drive and support both urgent improvements at the frontline and the long term sustainability of the healthcare system. Alongside that, it will be the health sector regulator.
NHS Improvement will bring together Monitor, the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA), the Patient Safety Team from NHS England, the Advancing Change Team from NHS Improving Quality and the Intensive Support Teams from NHS Interim Management and Support.
2.2 Potential to improve elective care productivity by up to 20%
Our new report, a result of close collaboration with service providers, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the British Orthopaedic Association, looks into the efficiency and productivity of ophthalmic and orthopaedic services in the NHS and abroad.
We identify 9 opportunities where elective teams can concentrate their efforts to maximise quality and efficiency. Improvements in these areas could improve productivity by 13 to 20%.
For more on our findings, read our report and supporting case studies.
2.3 Transforming costing: programme update
We had a great response to our call for case studies and we’re now working through these in detail to set out the local and national benefits for investing in patient level costing staff, processes and software.
As a result, our publication on the value for money of patient level costing will now publish early 2016. If you have experience of patient level costing benefiting patients and your organisation to contribute, please email costing@monitor.gov.uk.
You can keep up to date with the latest news on our costing transformation programme by signing up to our bi-monthly costing newsletter. Please email costing@monitor.gov.uk to subscribe.
2.4 Performance of the foundation trust sector in Q1 2015/16
The first performance report for 2015/16 shows that foundation trusts are under pressure from an increased demand for care and a ‘worst in a generation’ financial position. For the second successive financial year, the sector has recorded a deficit (-£445 million) in the first quarter.
3. Events
3.1 Optimising referral to treatment pathways for planned care in the North of England
- Harrogate - Friday 6 November 2015
- Bolton - Friday 20 November 2015
Who is it for?
Commissioners, providers and members of clinical networks in the North of England.
Why attend?
Monitor, NHS TDA and NHS England are holding 2 x 1 day events focusing on the delivery of Referral to Treatment (RTT) pathways for improved patient experience and outcomes.
The agenda will cover tools and shared learning across a number of key areas including cancer, diagnostics and mental health - focusing on the need to deliver patient-focused pathways.
We will also clarify the implications of the recent changes to RTT operational standards and reporting arrangements, as well as explain the key themes from the updated guidance published on 1 October 2015 and the associated mental health guidance on the new access and waiting time standards.
Book your place on NHS England’s website:
4. External updates
4.1 NHS England: new guide to biosimilar medicine for finance directors
NHS England has developed this guide to help finance officials, in both commissioning and provider organisations, learn about biosimilar medicines and how they are used in the NHS. The guide also provides information about competition in the biosimilar medicine industry which can help inform finance and procurement decision-making.
5. Getting in touch
5.1 Questions or feedback
If you have any questions about the information in this bulletin, please email licensing@monitor.gov.uk.
5.2 News alerts
You can subscribe to Monitor’s news update service which is a convenient way for you to receive relevant information direct to your inbox.
5.3 Publications
All of our publications for independent providers are available to download from our website.
5.4 Our latest job opportunities
For more information or to apply, please visit our recruitment website joinmonitor.com.