The NHS Confederation welcomes the move to bring healthcare closer to patients, and in particular:

• closer integration between the NHS and social services
• improved access to family doctors
• improved care for those with a long-term condition.

Through its Commissioning a Patient-led NHS policy, the Department of Health began a debate about whether there should be a clear split between commissioning and provider functions within primary care trusts. However, we believe we have to decide what services patients need before considering the structure, form and governance of providing organisations.

Much of our policy work has focused on the key principles that should underline the development of out-of-hospital care. Our series of briefings looks at the future shape of service provision in primary care and community settings:

• First steps in planning primary care trust provision looked at the issues that commissioners and potential providers need to understand
• Design principles for out-of-hospital care sets out what we believe are the key principles underpinning the development of out-of-hospital care
• What sort of organisation for PCT provider functions? explores which sector the service fits into and what type of organisational design and form will achieve this.

In addition NHS Employers, with the Department of Health, has produced guidance on moving nursing services into the community. We have also published best practice in providing services for people with long term conditions.

How we involve members

Our PCT Network works with members to capture ideas on the future of community provision. We hold specific seminars and meetings to inform our policy positions. Look out for information in our weekly Interchange Alert bulletin, or for specific email invitations.

We hold regular meetings to bring together key stakeholders and NHS Confederation members together and most recently we ran a series of learning sets for members to look at how community services can be provided in the future.

NHS Confederation policy

We responded to the Department of Health's commissioning framework. Read our response in full.

Return to the key issues index.