World class commissioning: What does it all mean?

Abstract

The world class commissioning programme, now in its second year, is a Department of Health (DH) programme developed to help strengthen primary care trusts' (PCT) ability to commission health and social care services effectively (DH, 2007b). The NHS vision is to deliver a health and care system that is fair, personalized, effective and safe within the goal of ‘adding life to years and years to life’. World class commissioning will be one of the most important vehicles for delivering this vision. To become world class, commissioners will need to develop the knowledge and skills to plan an important number of roles, these include becoming world class local NHS leaders, community partners, strategic planners, market innovators and process managers—a tall order. This must be done by reflecting on the needs of their local communities, while also delivering on national priorities set by government.