Healthcare is procured from a range of providers; the aim is to improve healthcare, achieving the strategic objectives through the contracting process. Contracting incorporates market research, purchasing, procurement, tendering, and sometimes grants.

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Tips on searching the web: (contract AND implement*) / specification* / procurement To limit to NHS papers, try combining your results with: (pct OR "primary care trust" OR nhs) You can search for terms such as "board paper" / "strategy" to help to locate Trust papers  COMBINE WITH keywords to reflect the topic area you are focusing upon. Also have a look at our summary of tips on searching the web and visit the Commissioning Specialist Library - a one-stop shop, providing timely and efficient access to high quality information resources for all those involved in commissioning.   Useful keywords for searching HMIC: keyword 1; keyword 2; keyword 3.

 

Market research

Dr Foster Intelligence 

This company covers market research analysis and social marketing as well as offering expertise in changing behaviour and managing demand on health services.

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Contracting

Framework for Managing Choice, Cooperation and Competition

The roles, responsibilities, values and behaviours required for the effective management of choice and competition within the NHS

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Frequently asked questions

Searchable list of primary care contracting questions and answers; quality-assured by the Department of Health.

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Good Indicators Guide: Understanding how to use and choose indicators

A short, practical resource for anyone in any health system who is responsible for using indicators to monitor and improve performance, systems or outcomes.

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NHS contracts monthly e-bulletin

The monthly contracts e-bulletins provide updates on the progress of the development,  publication and implementation of the new standard contracts and are distributed with 'the week'.

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NHS Primary Care Contracting

This is the What:  information from the Department of Health on legislation, policy guidance, contract documentation, implementation and support details for GMS, PMS, PCTMS and APMS.

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Principles and rules for co-operation and competition

Simple, workable guidance for system managers, commissioners, and providers on the expected behaviours and rules governing cooperation and competition, in the provision of NHS services. 

[AG 200109] 

 

Primary care contracting website

What’s it all about? NHS Primary Care Contracting provides valuable commissioning, contracting and communications support for SHAs, PCTs and the Department of Health. It operates on a subscription model and all 152 PCTs currently subscribe to its services.  PCC helps PCTs support patients by giving local insight into national policy and providing high levels of expertise on commissioning and contracting.

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Standard contracts

Four new standard NHS contracts for mental health, community and ambulance services and revised acute services were published, with accompanying guidance, in December 2008.

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Supply2health

Providing a central place for all invitations to tender, this portal is also making readily available information on policy, procurement, standard contracts and much more.

 

Transactions manual 

This manual for providers and commissioners of NHS services covers mergers, de-mergers, acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures and franchising. Co-produced with NHS stakeholders, this is a joint publication by the Department of Health and Monitor. The manual incorporates best-practice guidance, as well as mandatory practice required by law or by policy. It is a 'live' document updated from time to time.

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Procurement

Primary Care Trust Procurement Guide for Health Services

Policy and regulatory context for procurement, and issues to consider when developing a procurement strategy

[AG 200109]

 

Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing

CEP collates and suports evidence gathering to assist in the adoption of new technologies in health and social care. Buyers Guides, Evaluation Reports and Reviews

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