Our commissioning role
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.
These services are then monitored by commissioners to ensure they deliver both a good quality service for patients and provide value for money.
Examples of people who NHS Birmingham East and North commissions service from include GPs, dentists, community pharmacists, NHS and private hospitals, and voluntary sector organisations.
To commission services effectively, the trust is responsible for:
- A detailed understanding of the health needs of its communities
- A good knowledge and understanding of the latest research and practice
- Creating strong links with key partners inside and outside the region
- Listening to the needs of its patients, carers and the local community
- Contract management, performance and evaluation
Assessing people’s needs
The trust is committed to finding out the health and care needs of its local population. It does this through activities such as:
Prioritising people’s health
NHS Birmingham East and North aims to understand the needs of its local communities. To deliver the services that can meet these needs, it strives to be an excellent commissioning organisation by embracing the following principles:
- Practice-based commissioning means giving GPs and other frontline staff the power to develop relevant services at a local level
- World Class Commissioning means setting clear targets for how services perform
