To strategically go

Strategic commissioning is being embraced by local authorities as the way forward for public service delivery, according to a report from local government think tank Localis (in partnership with Essex County Council and Mears). Commission Impossible draws on findings from a survey of council leaders and chief executives which shows that the practice of commissioning services from outside providers is widespread and "set to accelerate significantly." While various healthcare press reports focus on the make-up of newly formed clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), a paper from the NHS Confederation and Royal College of General Practitioners addresses the oft-raised question of conflicts of interest and offers some timely guidance. In an article for Pulse, the chair of the Tower Hamlets CCG summarises this group's approach to integrated commissioning, joining the dots between primary and secondary care and local authority provision. This month's expert on call from the NHS Institute features Mark Jennings, Senior Advisor to the Development for Commissioners Programme, focusing on integration and commissioning.