NHS England has recently published its Strategic Commissioning Framework for this year, providing integrated care boards (ICBs) with a comprehensive guide to their role as strategic commissioners. The framework defines strategic commissioning as a continuous evidence-based process to plan, purchase, monitor and evaluate services over the longer term, with the ultimate aim of improving population health, reducing health inequalities and ensuring equitable access to consistently high-quality healthcare.
Since the establishment of the Model ICB Blueprint and the commissioning approach envisioned in the 10 Year Health Plan, the framework supports ICBs and other partners to understand strategic commissioning and the key enablers required to support these changes in NHS legislation, operating model and financial context.
Key highlights
The framework sets out a four-stage approach to Strategic Commissioning:
- Understanding the context – Using linked, person-level data to build Integrated Needs Assessments and establish intelligence functions
- Developing long-term population health strategy – Publishing 5-year population health improvement plans co-designed with providers, local government, clinicians, and communities
- Delivering the strategy through the payor function – Acting as intelligent healthcare payors, allocating resources to meet strategic priorities using payment models that incentivise outcomes
- Evaluating impact – Tracking service quality, access, cost and outcomes through formal evaluation frameworks with feedback loops
Strategic Commissioning at Scale:
The framework outlines how commissioning operates across multi/pan-ICB, system/ICB, place, and neighbourhood levels, with responsibilities devolved or aggregated where appropriate.
Seven Key Enablers:
Including system leadership for population health, clinical and care professional leadership, data analytics and technology, intelligent payor function, user involvement and co-design, relationships with local government, and ICB competency and capability.
Download our full snapshot summary below:
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The Strategic Commissioning Framework represents a fundamental shift in how healthcare is planned and delivered across England. By providing ICBs with a clear, structured approach to strategic commissioning, the framework aims to move the NHS from reactive, short-term planning to proactive, evidence-based long-term strategy focused on population health outcomes.
For the NHS system, the framework provides the structure needed to deliver the ambitions set out in the 10 Year Health Plan and the Medium-Term Planning Framework. However, success will depend on ICBs having the capacity, capability and resources to implement this approach effectively while managing existing operational pressures.
To find the full framework click here.
