Steven Wyatt Healthcare Policy Analyst, NHS West Midlands, Birmingham
Fran Fahy Specialist Commissioning Manager for Prevention, NHS Walsall
Abstract
In April 2010, eight PCTs in the West Midlands adopted a new approach to commissioning stop smoking services. Following a procurement process, 3-year contracts were awarded to new and existing suppliers from the statutory, voluntary and private sector. Contracted suppliers are free to recruit and deliver stop smoking services to eligible participants and to claim a payment from a PCT and a standard rate (a tariff) if they succeed in supporting an individual to stop smoking for 4 and 12 weeks. Higher tariffs are available to suppliers working with certain defined targeted populations. There is no limit to the number of suppliers and the contracts contain no activity caps.
The primary objective of the project is to increase the supply of stop smoking services. The project is a Department of Health PbR (Payment by Results) pilot and the currencies and tariffs developed by the project are listed in the PbR Guidance for 2011/12. The project is referenced in the recently published Tobacco Control Plan for England.
The presentation will set out the rationale for the project, provide an early indication of its impact on activity levels and identify lessons learnt.
Source of funding: NHS Stoke-on-Trent, NHS South Staffordshire, NHS Shropshire County PCT, NHS Telford & Wrekin, NHS Walsall, NHS Sandwell, NHS Coventry, NHS Worcestershire & NHS West Midlands.
