Website of the Department of Health
Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.
Page menu
You are here:
Practice based commissioning: case studies
-
Last modified date:6 July 2007
These case studies contain examples of areas in which practice based commissioning is already happening.
Practices have been able to receive an indicative budget since April 2005. In some areas, forms of practice based commissioning precede this date.
PBC and 18 weeks
Published: 4 July 2007
This leaflet contains two case studies showing how commissioning can work effectively across the whole patient pathway, helping to end waiting and change lives.
Getting started
East Hants and Fareham and Gosport PCT
December 2005: East Hants and Fareham and Gosport PCTs, which share a joint management structure, are still very much at the planning and preparation stage of implementing practised-based commissioning (PBC).
Craven, Harrogate and Rural District PCT
October 2005: As part of a phased approach to implementing PBC, indicative budgets for secondary care, mental health and community services and prescribing are being devolved to practices over a three-year period.
Vale of Aylesbury PCT
December 2004: Vale of Aylesbury PCT has invited the 26 practices in its patch to a workshop to look at practice-based commissioning and to examine the opportunities and threats it might present.
Darlington PCT
November 2004: For the first year of practice-based commissioning, Darlington PCT is encouraging practices to work in partnership and focus on areas where they can make the quickest and largest impact.
East Devon PCT
October 2004: East Devon PCT already has six of its 13 practices fully signed up to practice-based commissioning, with another two in the pipeline.
Working in localities
Airedale PCT
June 2005: Airedale PCT has a population of 120,000 and is in the midst of a merger with North Bradford PCT. It is currently working to establish three locality commissioning groups with a view to implementing practice-based commissioning (PBC).
South Hams and West Devon PCT
January 2005: Over the last couple of years South Hams and West Devon PCT has worked hard to encourage, support and listen to GPs in its 18 practices in five localities.
Supporting practices
North Bradford PCT
December 2004: Practice-based commissioning has been in place in North Bradford for the last few years but its profile has been low due to the limited amount of data available to practices.
Using PBC to redesign services
Thames Valley PCTs
January 2006: Giving GPs more control over how services are provided has enabled them to review urology services and remove steps that don't add value for patients.
Uttlesford PCT
December 2005: Uttlesford PCT in Essex has a strong track record of developing community-based services through the skills of GPs with Special Interests (GPwSI).
Patient involvement in PBC
West Norfolk PCT
January 2006: GPs are working with patients who are experts in their own conditions to improve the way they move around the NHS for services such as radiology, orthopaedics, sexual health and dermatology.
Using PBC to support those with long term conditions
East Devon PCT
January 2006: Giving GPs and their teams the lead on improving services is enabling East Devon PCT to build on its drive towards improving access by developing more local services closer to where people live.
Getting practices interested in PBC
Vale of Aylesbury PCT
September 2005
Encouraging good collaboration
Darlington PCT
September 2005
Using practice-based commissioning to facilitate joined up working between health and social care
South West Staffordshire PCT
March 2006: A practice in South West Staffordshire PCT is using practice-based commissioning to set up community teams to cope with cases which require a mix of health and social care expertise. This integration of the primary and secondary care workforces has given the area new impetus in helping patients to avoid hospital admissions.
Additional links
Access keys
