Correspondence

Independent provider bulletin: October 2014

Published 8 December 2014

1. For action

1.1 Have your say on proposals for the 2015/16 National Tariff Payment System

We will begin consulting on proposals for the 2015/16 National Tariff Payment System later this month. To ensure your organisation’s views are heard, please follow the instructions on our website as soon as possible, and if you have any questions, please email rachael.mcadam@monitor.gov.uk.

Thank you for your input into our engagement programme which included a detailed survey, as well as a series of webinars and workshops. We are using your feedback in the proposals we present for consultation later this month.

1.2 Compliance with licence conditions – licensed providers with September year ends

We will shortly be contacting licensees with September year ends to explain the certifications required to comply with the conditions of the NHS provider licence. In particular, we will be making requests relating to Condition G6 (systems for compliance with licence conditions) and Condition CoS7 (availability of resources).

Licensees with September year ends should familiarise themselves with the licence conditions and follow the guidance that will be issued shortly.

2. For information

2.1 What are patients saying about choice? Read the measurement of choice survey results

We have published the results of a joint survey we conducted with NHS England, which asked patients if they were offered a choice of outpatient appointments. The results showed that more than half of the 2,706 patients interviewed were aware of their right to choose between hospitals and clinics but more still needs to be done to promote choice.

Read the full findings here.

2.2 What do you know about integrated care and your obligations under the NHS provider licence?

We have a range of information and resources available on our website that helps to explain what integrated care is, Monitor’s role and what this means for you and how you deliver care.

For a detailed guide answering some commonly asked questions about integrated care, read Complying with Monitor’s integrated care requirements. It is updated as new information becomes available.

2.3 Investigation into the commissioning of elective services in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre

We have now completed our investigation into a complaint brought by Spire Healthcare Limited (Spire). We did not uphold the complaint but the investigation found that Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group and Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group (the CCGs) had not ensured that patients were being offered choice and that patient choice was being publicised and promoted.

More patients in Lancashire are now expected to be offered a choice of hospital care, following our investigation.

2.4 Understanding choice and competition condition

We have published new guidance documents on choice and competition. They aim to help you make the best decisions for patients by explaining how Monitor applies competition rules. We have also published hypothetical scenarios for NHS healthcare providers, which give examples of conduct that can breach the competition conditions of the NHS provider licence and competition law.

2.5 NHS priorities for the coming months – will they affect your work?

System leaders recently wrote to NHS foundation trusts, NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups, about the biggest priorities for the NHS over the next few months.

Independent providers may wish to consider how the priorities set out in this letter could affect your NHS work.

2.6 Foundation trusts’ operational plans and accounts data available online

Independent providers may be interested to know that all NHS foundation trusts’ annual reports and accounts, and operational plans can be downloaded from our foundation trust directory.

We have also published the accounts data for all foundation trusts for 2013/14. This includes staff costs, income and private finance initiative payments. This data will allow you to see how much each foundation trust is spending compared with other trusts.

For a summary of the foundation trust sector’s performance for the 3 months ending 30 June 2014, read this report and helpful infographic.

3. Getting in touch

3.1 Questions or feedback

If you have any questions about the information in this bulletin, please email licensing@monitor.gov.uk.

3.2 News alerts

You can subscribe to Monitor’s news update service, which is a convenient way for you to receive relevant information direct to your inbox.

3.3 Publications

All of our publications for independent providers are available to download from our website.

3.4 Our latest job opportunities

For more information or to apply, please visit our recruitment website joinmonitor.com.