NHS England is in the early stages of the process for developing the NHS Standard Contract for 2016/17. They have three key priorities for 2016/17:
- to work with New Models of Care Vanguards to develop tailored contracts and contracting models to deliver New Models of Care. In the North West there are primary care Vanguards in the following areas: Fylde Coast, North Lancashire, Salford, West Cheshire, Wirral.
- to produce a significantly streamlined version of the Standard Contract, specifically for use when contracting for less complex services of relatively low financial value. This area is of particular interest to smaller voluntary and community sector providers.
- to undertake a further review of the range of financial sanctions which apply under the Contract.
NHS England are keen to ensure that people who use the Contract in practice – commissioners and providers – have the opportunity to feed in their views about changes which they would like to see for 2016/17. If you would like to make comments or suggestions, about the Contract itself or our Contract Technical Guidance, please email these to [email protected] by Friday 11th September 2014.
They have yet to confirm the exact exact timetable for publishing the 2016/17 Contract but anticipate publishing the draft Contract for formal consultation in late autumn / early winter.
