Commissioning in the NHS is the process of ensuring that the health and care services provided effectively meet the needs of the population.
It is a complex process with responsibilities ranging from assessing population needs, prioritising health outcomes, procuring products and services, and managing service providers.
As part of a wider programme of work around services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, applications are sought for commissioning pathfinders to test ways of improving how these services are commissioned and the outcomes for children and young people using them.
The Secretary of State's announcement on 21 January 2009 about the NHS constitution referred to the publication of draft Directions (to come into effect on 1 April 2009) and a guiding principles document aimed at helping PCTs improve the consistency and quality of local decision making medicines. There are nine headline principles and an accompanying scoping statement.
How DH, the NHS and social care work together.
