NHS HMR makes a ‘strong’ and ‘solid’ start towards World Class Commissioning

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale was recognised for its impressive patient and public engagement and partnership working during a recent independent review.

The strengths were highlighted as good practice as part of the World Class Commissioning Assurance programme.

The review identified that whilst the organisation is at an early stage of its development, it has very solid foundations enabling it to move forward with confidence.

The high-level findings also reflected an organisation with strong governance arrangements – achieving all three ‘greens’ across strategy, finance and Board governance.

Published today (26 February) as part of the first ‘assurance’ review against World Class Commissioning, the programme – the only one of its type in the world - is transforming the way in which NHS organisations commission for improved health outcomes.

It takes best practice from this country, and from health systems around the world, to help PCTs like to commission services in the most effective way. It will help NHs Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale ensure the delivery of better services that are more closely matched to local needs, resulting in better quality of care, improved health and well-being and a reduction in health inequalities across the community.

The report recommends that the organisation maintains its impressive levels of engagement and maintains its focus and development of new partnerships, while developing additional capacity around whole-scale systems management and building further clarity around priority areas for improvement.

NHS HMR Chief Executive, Trevor Purt said: “We are pleased with the outcome of the external review and particularly encouraged that the panel felt it necessary to uplift the scores we submitted through our own self assessment last autumn.

“We are committed to delivering improved health and well-being outcomes for our population. The ‘very solid foundations’ and strong governance arrangements outlined in this report, enable us to move forward with real confidence around our capability to commission based on local need.”