Dr Foster Intelligence

Andy Burnham, Minister of State for Delivery and Reform, is supporting the recent Intelligent Practice report.

In a letter addressed to Sir William Wells, Chair of the Intelligent Practice steering group, Burnham commented:

"This document concurs with all the feedback that we receive highlighting the need to ensure that practice based commissioners are provided with timely, accurate information, and in a format that is useful to them. Information is crucial to practice based commissioners. Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), practices and providers all have a role in helping to increase the availability and quality of the information available.

This document highlights some important steps forward, and we welcome its dissemination more widely. It complements the information requirements placed on PCTs in the recent practice based commissioning guidance Practical Implementation, which we published last November."

Download a free copy of Intelligent Practice [adobe pdf]

For the first time, the information requirements for commissioning GPs have been identified. The Intelligent Practice, the fourth report in the independent Intelligent Board series, proposes a basic set of criteria as the information necessary to the running of a successful practice.

The report's steering group, all practising GPs, unanimously agreed that practice-based commissioning is the key to the modernisation of the NHS. Effective commissioning depends on effective information. GP commissioners are not receiving the information they need to ensure that their local populations receive the best quality health services.

This report is a practical guide for GPs and PCTs. It sets out two frameworks of minimum information requirements: one for every GP and another more detailed one for lead commissioners.

Key themes of the report are that:

• PCTs and GP commissioners must work as a team
• There should be clear lines of accountability, with transparent contracting arrangements, especially when GP practices act as both commissioner and provider
• PCTs and GPs should develop a common information framework that is consistent across all organisations in the local health community

The steering group was entirely independent, and its members were not remunerated in any way. They were supported by research and production teams at Dr Foster Intelligence. The steering group included:

• Sir William Wells
  Chairman, the Appointments Commission
• Dr Dennis Abadi
  GP (Westminster) and PEC Chair, Westminster PCT
• Dr Charles Alessi
  GP (Kingston) and director of the Kingston Cooperative Initiative
• Dr David Colin Thomé
  GP (Runcorn) and national clinical director primary care
• Dr Michael Dixon
  GP (Devon) and Chairman, NHS Alliance
• Dr Steve Henderson
  GP (Greater Manchester) and NHS North West lead for connecting for health
• Professor Mayur Lakhani
  GP (Leicestershire) and President, Royal College of General Practitioners
• Dr Naresh Rati
  GP (Birmingham) and PEC member (Heart of Birmingham PCT)
• Dr Lisa Silver
  GP (Oxfordshire)
• Dr Mark Williamson
  GP (Hull) in the North East and senior medical advisor, Department of Health

Download a free copy of Intelligent Practice [adobe pdf]