Practice-based commissioning aims to encourage GPs to redesign care pathways to achieve better outcomes for local people at a lower cost.

• Practice-based commissioning development framework (Department of Health 2008)
  This framework enables SHAs, PCTs and practice-based commissioners to easily procure support to boost their practice-based commissioning capability and skills, including clinician engagement, organisational development and leadership.
  
  • Introduction (PDF 70KB)
  • Specification (PDF 101KB)
  • How to 'call-off' service file corrected 21 May 2009 (PDF 194KB)
  • Word- processable call-off pro-forma (RTF 38KB)
  • Framework Agreement (RTF 513KB)
  • Development Framework questions and answers
  • About the organisations appointed to the PBC Development Framework
• Practice-based commissioning podcast (CSIP)
  This 2007 podcast looks at how practice-based commissioning can drive up care quality, invest in less traditional services and use specialists more widely. It should be broader than primary care or general practice, says the panel, and take account of public expectations.
• Practice-based commissioning: Budget setting refinements and clarification of health funding flexibilities, incentive schemes and governance (Department of Health 2007)
  This offers clarification on the flexible use of NHS funds, governance arrangements and incentive schemes to support practice-based commissioning, suggests local flexibilities PCTs could agree with practice-based commissioners, and outlines potential conflicts of interest.
• Putting commissioning into practice: Implementing practice based commissioning through good financial management (Audit Commission 2007)
  This report explores practice-based commissioning from a financial management perspective. It recommends more consistent provision and assessment of business cases to ensure best use of available funds, and looks at issues of ownership, risk management and governance.
• Early lessons in implementing practice-based commissioning: Key areas to focus on for success and key questions for primary care trusts' boards to consider Audit Commission (2006)
  This report explores key areas to focus on in practice-based commissioning implementation, challenges in engaging practices, establishing the necessary infrastructure and redesigning services, and risks associated with the move to practice-based commissioning if it is not managed well.
• Practice based commissioning early wins and top tips (Department of Health 2006)
  This guide offers tips to support practice-based commissioning within and between primary care providers, such as protocols, audit mechanisms, feedback and activity data. It uses case studies to illustrate ideas for pathway redesign in areas including long-term conditions.
• Briefing: Practice-based commissioning (King's Fund 2007)
  This briefing explains how practice-based commissioning is intended to work, the way budgets are set and the incentives available and identifies key objectives such as delivering better preventive care and policy issues that will impact on the future of practice-based commissioning.
• Practice-based commissioning: From good idea to effective practice (King's Fund 2007)
  This paper explores possible reasons for slow take-up of practice-based commissioning, including lack of information, financial constraints and PCT reorganisation, and makes suggestions for better two-way communication and involving practices in strategic commissioning.
• Practice-based commissioning (Commissioning eBook 2006)
  This paper looks at where practice-based commissioning fits within the context of NHS reform, and identifies the elements required for it to be effective, such as the importance of good information and financial management.
• Skills for practice-based commissioning (Commissioning eBook 2006)
  This paper outlines the tasks and processes required for effective practice-based commissioning. It looks at what practices and PCTs need in terms of resources and skills to develop practice-based commissioning, and explores whether these are already available.
• The use of simulation events in developing practice-based commissioning (Commissioning eBook 2008)
  This paper explores outcomes from simulation events, which highlight the need for clear rules on engagement, incentives and risk management. Different scenarios expose ethical and practical dilemmas generated by practice-based commissioning.
• Practice-based commissioning: An introduction for a local authority audience (Department of Health 2006)
  This guide outlines what practice-based commissioning means for social care. It offers examples of early practice-based commissioning implementation, involving pooled budgets, joint managers, multi-disciplinary health and social care teams and integrated functions.