Two new PCT reporting tools launched

Two new web-based reporting tools to help primary care trusts and GPs deliver practice–based commissioning have been launched.

Medical data firm Dr Foster Intelligence says its PBC tool will provide GPs with activity and financial statements as well as benchmarking data with information for all trusts in England and many independent sector treatment centres.

Another PBC solution has been launched by business intelligence specialists, Ardentia, with financial information plus demographic data and information on treatments, admissions, referrals and prescribing. Ardentia says its tool has so far been bought by several strategic health authorities for use by their PCTs although it is not able to name the SHAs as yet.

The Dr Foster Intelligence solution has been bought by Southwest Peninsula SHA and 17 PCTs in London. A spokesman said that by the end of last week the tool would be in use by 47 PCTs. Individual practices can also buy the solution at a cost of 25p per patient per year.

The revised nGMS contract for GPs includes a directed enhanced service for practice based commissioning which will pay GPs an initial 95p per patient for engaging in PBC and a further 95p per patient for meeting objectives.

In its guidance to GPs the British Medical Association’s General Practitioner Committee says that the DES made it clear that it is the PCTs’ responsibility to provide “a minimum packet of information relating to practices use of the health service” and that where practices believe that the data provided is inaccurate, PCTs are expected to work with the practice to ensure the data’s accuracy. The GPC says the Department of Health guidance requires PCTs to provide information on a monthly basis.

Last week Middlesbrough PCT offered its own PBC reporting software free to any other PCT.

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Middlesbrough PCT offers reporting software for free