Many practices still rate PBC data as poor
More than four out of ten practices still rate the quality of information they receive for practice-based commissioning as poor or very poor, according to the latest Deaprtment of Health survey. The findings from the latest quarterly survey conducted between January and March this year, show that GP practice satstisfaction with the quality of information […]
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NHS Alliance urges full record access for patients
The NHS Alliance is calling for patients to have electronic access to their full primary care record as part of its manifesto for a 21st century health service. The organisation, whose membership includes GP practices and PCTs, has published its proposals for reform of the health service in a new report, In Sickness and In […]
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Over 40 per cent of practices say PBC data poor
More than 40% of GP practices believe the information they receive for practice based commissioning (PBC) is poor or very poor, according to the latest Department of Health survey. The second quarterly survey of practices for 2007/8 shows little improvement since the survey was carried out three months earlier. A total of 41%, of the 1,398 […]
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2008: the year telecare grows up?
A large evaluation of assistive technologies across health and social care begins next year, Fiona Barr reports.
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NHS Alliance calls for independent coding
PCTs and hospital trusts should employ independent coders to eliminate concerns over incorrect coding from secondary care, according to the NHS Alliance. Dr Mike Dixon, chair of the NHS Alliance, said commissioners were concerned about the level of errors in coding and that foundation trusts faced a financial incentive to “code up” activity. He added: […]
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Problems with SUS hamper commissioning
The Department of Health must resolve problems with the Secondary Uses Service if practice-based commissioning (PBC) is to succeed, according to the Audit Commission. The commission’s report on progress with PBC, Putting Commissioning into Practice, recommends that the DH reviews the adequacy and timeliness of the SUS’s ability to provide activity data for PBC. The […]
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SUS blasted as ‘not fit for purpose’
The Secondary Uses Service (SUS) is not fit for purpose and is failing to provide GP practices and PCTs with the information they need for practice based commissioning (PBC), according to the NHS Alliance. The criticism of SUS follows the results of the latest quarterly survey of PBC published by the Department of Health last […]
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Leeds PCT invest in PBC monitoring software
Leeds Primary Care Trust has invested in new software to make data collation for practice based commissioning and performance management easier and clearer for its services to understand. Leeds PCT is one of the largest PCTs in the country, with an annual budget of more than £1bn. The trust have chose Performancesoft Views, specialist software […]
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More teamwork needed to make PBC a reality
A report by an independent steering group of experts from the NHS, supported by Dr Foster Intelligence has called for more teamwork between PCTs and GPs to make practice-based commissioning (PBC) a reality. The group was unanimous that the successful implementation of PBC is a pre-requisite to the modernisation of the NHS. But the accurate, real-time […]
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Fresh guidance issued on PBC data requirements
Fresh guidance on practice-based commissioning sets out the minimum data requirements that primary care trusts (PCTs) are expected to provide to GP practices. The document, ‘Practice based commissioning: practical implementation‘, makes it clear that PCTs are responsible for ensuring that the information needs of practices are met, either by providing the data themselves or contracting […]
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