Website of the Department of Health

Directed Enhanced Service

The Directed Enhanced Service for practice based commissioning, and its supporting guidance, is now available on the NHS Employers website.

• NHS Employers: key documents on the GMS contract (opens new window)

Improvement Foundation

The Department has asked the Improvement Foundation to support PCTs with the rollout of practice based commissioning.

• Improvement Foundation support programme

National Association of Primary Care

For example the National Association of Primary Care is operating a practice based commissioning helpline and web page resource. It is also collecting and will be disseminating best practice. It will be running further conferences on practice based commissioning and NHS Foundation Trusts throughout 2006.

For more information contact Maggie Marum on 0207 636 7228 or email

• Maggie@napc.co.uk (opens new window)
• National Association of Primary Care (opens new window)

NHS Alliance

The NHS Alliance supports and represents current and aspiring practice based commissioners through the NHS Alliance Federation for Practice Based Commissioning, which provides information, advice, a comprehensive database and monthly newsletters for member practices and practice clusters/localities.  There will be 15 regional practice based commissioning conferences this spring and the launch of a practice based commissioning 'flying squad' for practices and PCTs.  Practice managers, PCT commissioning managers, PEC chairs, specialists, nurses and allied health professionals can also directly access help with practice based commissioning through six national networks created specifically for these clinician/manger groups.

For more information contact Kaye Locke on 01777 869080 or email

• office@nhsalliance.org (opens new window)
• The NHS Alliance (opens new window)

British Medical Assocation

The General Practitioners Committee (GPC) of the BMA continues to offer advice on practice based commissioning to Local Medical Committees (LMCs) and individual GP practices.  It has produced guidance for LMCs and GPs on the initiative and plans to issue further guidance following publication of this document. 

For more information contact Sally Al-Zaidy at:

• sal-zaidy@bma.org.uk (opens new window)
• BMA website - Practice based commissioning (opens new window)

NHS Confederation

The NHS Confederation has produced briefings which will assist commissioners to understand the design principles that could be used to develop practice based commissioning organisations that are fit for purpose. The series of papers 'Shaping the Future of Community Health and Care for Patients' provides commissioners at PCT and practice level with service design principles and covers key issues which will support the planning of services. 

For further information visit the NHS Confederation website  or contact:  Jo Webber, Deputy Policy Director at:

• jo.webber@nhsconfed.org (opens new window)
• The NHS Confederation (opens new window)

Primary Care Contracting Team

The Primary Care Contracting Team has produced a practice based commissioning toolkit and is producing briefing sheets on specific subject areas.  It can also provide details of the local primary care contracting advisor who can provide local expert knowledge and support.

For more information

• contact sean.fenelon@pcc.nhs.uk (opens new window)
• and Rebecca.thornley@pcc.nhs.uk (opens new window)
• alternatively visit www.primarycarecontracting.nhs.uk (opens new window)

Royal College of Nursing

The Royal College of Nursing is running a series of masterclasses throughout 2006 for senior nurses and workshops for all clinicians who wish to further develop their commissioning knowledge. These high quality events are free to RCN members and can be accessed via the RCN Regional Office. Further work will be taking place to support senior nurses who will have commissioning roles to enable them to share and learn from each other and build their commissioning capability. The RCN primary care and public health web site contains specific guidance on Commissioning and Supporting nurses through changing roles.

For more information contact Lynn Young on 0207 647 3740 or:

• email lynn.young@rcn.org.uk (opens new window)
• Royal College of Nursing - Primary Care and Public Health Zone (opens new window)