Commissioning

In June 2023, NHS England published two new specialized service specifications for pediatric photon radiotherapy and gender incongruence in children and young people. These documents define national standards for the provision of specialized services, including aims, outcomes, model of provision, patient pathway, inclusion criteria, and requirements for the facilities and staff.

In May 2023, the latest set of guidance (List 3) of the Evidence-based Interventions (EBI) Programme was published. The program is run by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), supported by NHS England and NICE. Ten procedures were added to the List across a range of medical specialties, including breast surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, cardiovascular, urology, and ophthalmology. It is expected that where treatment criteria outlined in the List for the intervention are met, it would be routinely funded.

In late April, NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative introduced the Health Technology Navigation Pathway Tool to help innovators adopt new technologies into the NHS. The Tool breaks the innovation journey down into 25 steps, themed around the five key phases of the product lifecycle, from creation to commissioning and adoption. For each step, the schematic flowchart outlines key organizations to engage with, regulatory insights, best practice approaches, policies, guidelines, to-do lists, and required outputs.

In February 2023, NHS England released the position statement on Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) for symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis in adults to support elective performance. Previously, NHS England was commissioning TAVI at high surgical risk. This new position statement sets criteria for intermediate and low-surgical risk patients who are eligible for TAVI.

On February 1, 2023, the Treatment Council made its first two recommendations based on the major analysis reports regarding handheld focused ultrasound in emergency medicine and artificial intelligence as decision support for colonoscopy. The adoption of these technologies was not recommended.

In late January 2023, NHS England published an update of the Specialized Services Policy Pipeline (as of January 18, 2022). No new MedTech-related Clinical Commissioning Policies were added to the work program. One new policy on catheter ablation for paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation was published since the previous update. The status of ongoing policies was updated as well.

In December 2022, NHS England published an update of the Specialized Services Policy Pipeline (as of December 6, 2022). No new MedTech-related Clinical Commissioning Policies were added to the work program, and three new policies were published in the period from September 6, 2022, to December 6, 2022. The status of ongoing policies was updated as well.

On November 25, 2022, the Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) announced the third topic selected for major analyses (større analyser) for 2023. The selected topic is regarding the non-invasive treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

On October 11, 2022, the Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) announced the selection of two topics for major analyses (større analyser) for 2023, including the use of home non-invasive ventilation and the use of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy.

NHS England is currently developing a Service Specification for NHS Clinical Genomic Services (NHS CGSs). On September 01, 2022, draft Service Specification and supporting documents were published for consultation. The deadline for comments submission is September 30, 2022.

On September 01, 2022, NHS England published an update of the Specialized Services Policy Pipeline (as of August 24, 2022). Two new MedTech-related Clinical Commissioning Policies were added to the work program (transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of the mitral valve, pectus surgery for really severe pectus), and no new policies were published. The status of ongoing policies was updated as well.

NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) have been changing the organizational landscape of the healthcare system for several years by developing new geographically-based partnerships called Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), bringing together providers and commissioners of NHS services with local authorities and other local partners to plan, coordinate and commission health and care services. On July 01, 2022, 42 ICSs became fully operational on a statutory basis of the 2022 Health and Care Act. Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are now abolished and replaced by 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)