Learning disability: a benchmark for high-quality commissioning
November 2009
A board briefing to accompany the launch of the DH guide: ‘World class commissioning for the health and well-being of people with learning disabilities’.
Osteoporosis DES claim form available for practices
September 2009
Claim form for use by practices for the osteoporosis DES (Directed Enhanced Service) for both 2008/09 and 2009/10. All cells highlighted in light blue require manual input from the user. It has been cleared by both DH and NHS Employers. The 2009/10 figures have been amended to take into account the DDRB uplift of 1.74%. If PCTs require any more information, please contact Mike Simpson
PMS contract reviews
July 2009
A contract review toolkit, developed with NHS West Midlands.
Executive team briefing
Executive summary
PMS review toolkit
FAQ: clinical DES
26 June 2009
NHS Employers has issued responses to frequently asked questions about the five clinical DES schemes introduced in April 2008.
Directed enhanced services (DES) payments for learning disabilities
7 October 2009
This new paper provides four worked examples using different possible scenarios of how payments for the learning disabilities directed enhanced service should be calculated.
An FAQ on the learning disabilities DES is also available.
Further guidance on learning disabilities:
Letter to chief executives
DES training materials here
Suite of documents
Training & information pack
Primary medical services: useful documents
1 June 2009
This paper lists various regulations, directions and guidance relating to primary care medical services.
Download primary medical services regulations and guidance
New clinical DES - summary of key features
12 February 2009
Following the release of the clinical DES Directions and SFE Amendments, NHS PCC has produced a summary of the key features that PCTs will need to consider when commissioning these services. It is however not a substitute for reading the Directions, SFE Amendments or service specifications. Should you have a query regarding any of the documents please contact your local PCCA in the first instance.
NHS Employers are finalizing the supporting read codes with the GPC and they will be released via the NHSE website shortly. A link to this document will appear on NHS PCC website following their release and it will also be mentioned in the appropriate New@PCC bulletin.
SFE directions enabling new clinical DES payments published
12 February 2009
The Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) Directions 2009 has been signed, enabling the introduction of payment mechanisms for five new clinical directed enhanced services relating to alcohol (new section 7H), ethnicity and first language recording (new section 7I), learning difficulties (new section 7J), heart failure (new section 7K) and osteoporosis (new section 7L). There are also minor changes to some definitions in Annex A of the Statement of Financial Entitlements.
These amending directions need to be read in conjunction with the Primary Medical Services (Directed Enhanced Services) (Amendment) (England) Directions 2009.
Detailed guidance will be published by NHS Employers. Read codes will be available shortly.
Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) Directions 2009
Primary Medical Services (Directed Enhanced Services) (Amendment) (England) Directions 2009
DH releases service specifications for new clinical directed enhanced services
26 September 2008
Service specifications for the new clinical Directed Enhanced Services (DES) for 2008/9 have been released by the DH. Directions and amendments to the Statement of Financial Entitlement (SFE) will be released in October. PCTs should await the publication of these two documents before entering into any Local Enhanced Services. Practices however should examine the service specifications and put systems in place to provide them if they so wish.
More detailed documents have been produced to support PCTs as they seek to implement these:
New clinical DES consideration for PCTs
New clinical DES summary for PCTs
For more information, please contact charlotte.dowling@pcc.nhs.uk or rebecca.thornley@pcc.nhs.uk
Extended hours access scheme directed enhanced service
5 September 2008
The Directions to PCTs giving the legal basis for implementing the Directed Enhanced Service for GP practices to extend their opening hours are now in force. PCTs are required to offer the DES to all GMS and PMS practices in their area not already providing extended opening hours to the appropriate specification. Accompanying guidance is also available.
All the relevant documents can be accessed here
Updated FAQs on the DES can be found here
All the latest primary care contracting legislation and guidance, including the GMS contract documents, are held on the Department of Health's new Primary Care Contracting web pages
Clinical directed enhanced services (DES): guidance for GMS contract 2008/09
NHS Employers and the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA have agreed five new clinical directed enhanced services (DES) as part of the 2008/09 contract negotiations.
NHS Employers are finalising the supporting Read codes with the GPC and they will be released via the NHSE website shortly. A link to this document will appear on NHS PCC website following their release and it will also be mentioned in the appropriate New@PCC bulletin.”