Commissioning

On February 24, 2021, NHS England published an update of the Specialized Services Policy Pipeline (covering period November 10, 2020 - February 10, 2021). Two new Clinical Commissioning Policies were added to the work program, and seven new policies were published, including stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and proton therapy. The status of ongoing policies was updated as well.

In late February 2021, eleven out of fifteen needed members and three observers of the Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) were appointed in Denmark. The Treatment Council is a new model for assessing treatment methods and health technologies, expected to become fully operational in early 2021. Earlier in February 2021, the final method and process framework of the Treatment Council was approved.

NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) approved the merging of 38 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to create nine new CCGs that will take effect from April 2021. After these changes take place, the total number of CCGs will be 106.

In early February 2021, the final method and process frameworks of the Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) were approved in Denmark. The Treatment Council is a new model for assessing treatments and health technologies, expected to become fully operational in early 2021.

On January 07, 2021, NHS England published an update of the Specialized Services Policy Pipeline (covering the period October 19, 2020 - December 08, 2020). Two new Clinical Commissioning Policies were added to the work program, and six new policies related to radiotherapy, neurosurgery, pulmonology, and in-vitro diagnostics were published.

On November 04, 2020, NHS England published an update of the Specialized Services Policy Pipeline (as of October 19, 2020). Four new Clinical Commissioning Policies were added to the work program, six new policies were published, and one policy was discontinued.

On September 24, 2020, NHS England opened a consultation on clinical commissioning policy for the use of catheter ablation for paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. Comments can be submitted until October 24, 2020.

NHS England Clinical Reference Group Stakeholder Registration opened on April 3, 2019, and will continue till December 31, 2020.

On October 29, 2019, the NHS England updated the clinical commissioning work programs including clinical commissioning policy work program, specialized commissioning service specification work program, commissioning through evaluation work programs.

In May and November each year, NHS England makes decisions on which new treatments should be included for routine commissioning. The decisions are taken by the NHS England Board based on recommendations from the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG), which is made up of doctors, health experts, and patient representatives.

At the end of April of 2019, the NHS England has announced the start of routine commissioning of pioneering brain surgery in two UK hospitals. The highly complex procedure involves inserting a device directly into the brain to stimulate hearing pathways, bypassing the cochlea and auditory nerve that have not developed properly. About 15 children per year would be assessed for auditory brainstem implantation, and about nine would go on to have the surgery, which costs around £60,000 per patient.

The procedure will be included into Prescribed Specialized Services. About 8000 patients can benefit from the treatment annually. Other stroke treatments are commissioned by Clinical Commissioning Groups.