In UK government, commissioners perform the vital task of ensuring that health and social care services meet the needs of the people who use them. Essential for everyone involved in the planning and delivery of these services, this book comprehensively explores what commissioning is, its past, and its future. A wide range of leading contributors from fields including health care, social care, and local government takes readers through the key stages of the commissioning cycle and addresses such interrelated themes as the economics of commissioning, user involvement, and commissioning in an era of personalization.

Are you a health and social care commissioner navigating the ever-changing commissioning landscape? With challenges such as limited funding, changing demands and global pandemics, we need to be clear on why, what and how we commission effectively. This book offers you a warm welcome into the often-complex world of healthcare commissioning. Amanda J. Hughes shares personal insights from her commissioning career and practical guidance that will demystify the commissioning cycle and ease the journey as you strive to achieve the best outcomes for the population. This book will help you to ensure valuable resources are directed to those with most need, that care is fair and accessible and that the solutions you put into place are sustainable for the longer term.

This new text supports commissioners in translating current aspirations for public mental and physical health into tangible commissioning strategies. At a time when there are major changes in commissioning arrangements, this book provides a carefully structured and comprehensive look at the resources designed to improve population health and wellbeing outcomes. It examines critically how these resources, both human and financial, can be used in practice, focusing on health and wellbeing as well as illness. The book takes a life-course approach and examines commissioning for children, working-age adults and older people. It will be valuable reading for those taking postgraduate courses in commissioning and leadership and management in a healthcare context, as well as broad courses on public health and health promotion. Chris Heginbotham OBE FRSPH is Visiting Professor at the University of Cumbria and Emeritus Professor of Mental Health Policy and Management at the University of Central Lancashire. Karen Newbigging is a Senior Lecturer in the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham and is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society.

This White Paper sets out the Government's proposals to reform and expand community health and social care services in order to meet local needs, especially in poorer deprived communities. Four key objectives are highlighted in the White Paper: better health prevention services with earlier intervention; increased patient choice; tackling inequalities and improving access to community services; and increased support for people with long-term needs to live independently. Specific measures include: expansion of local care settings outside hospitals; increased joint commissioning between PCTs and local authorities to improve service integration; the introduction of practice based commissioning, where GPs are given more responsibility for local health budgets; increased provision for new primary care providers to compete for PCT contracts; and the introduction of a new NHS Life Check to promote healthier lifestyles with a pilot scheme in spearhead PCTs by 2007-08.

Further relates to white paper, 'Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS', Cm. 7881 (ISBN 9780101788120). An earlier report on this topic by the Committee published as HC 513-I, session 2010-11 (ISBN 9780215555960). Additional written evidence is contained in Vol. 2, available on the Committee's website at www.parliament.uk/healthcom

Dated May 2007. On cover: Departmental report. The health and personal social services programmes

Written by a leading author, this text provides a much needed account of UK public health and well-being policies and considers their influence on practice. With an emphasis on the importance of inter-agency and inter-professional approaches, this text is vital reading for all students and practitioners of public health and well-being.

The role of museums in enhancing well-being and improving health through social intervention is one of the foremost topics of importance in the museums sector today. With an aging population and emerging policies on the social responsibilities of museums, the sector is facing an unprecedented challenge in how to develop services to meet the needs of its communities in a more holistic and inclusive way. This book sets the scene for the future of museums where the health and well-being of communities is top of the agenda. The authors draw together existing research and best practice in the area of museum interventions in health and social care and offer a detailed overview of the multifarious outcomes of such interactions, including benefits and challenges. This timely book will be essential reading for museum professionals, particularly those involved in access and education, students of museums and heritage studies, as well as practitioners of arts in health, art therapists, care and community workers.

This White Paper (Cm. 7341, ISBN 9780101734127), sets out a programme for future NHS pharmaceutical services in England. Divided into 8 chapters with 2 annexes, it covers the following areas: the background to the White Paper; the context of change, looking at the major health and social challenges that have prompted a review of pharmacy services; expanding access and choice through more help with medicines; more pharmacy services supporting healthy living and better care; communications and relationships and how these can be improved by highlighting the varied services and benefits offered by pharmacies and pharmacists; research and innovation in practice; the pharmacy profession; the current structure and contractual arrangements of the pharmacy system. The Government has set out a future vision for the pharmacy services in England, including a number of specific objectives, including: making pharmacies into "healthy living centres", promoting health and helping people to take care of themselves; offer NHS treatment for minor ailments; provide specific support for people who are starting a new course of treatment; offer screening for those at risk of vascular disease; use new technologies to expand choice and improve care in hospitals and the community; become commissioned based on the range and quality of the services being delivered. Related publications to this White Paper, include: The Future of Pharmacy (http://www.appg.org.uk/documents/ThefutureofPharmacy_006.pdf); Our Health, Our Care (Cm.6737, ISBN 0101673728); Our NHS, Our Future (http://www.ournhs.nhs.uk/fromtypepad/283411_OurNHS_v3acc.pdf); A Vision for Pharmacy in the New NHS, July 2003 (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Closedconsultations/DH_4068353?).

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 contains 12 parts and 23 schedules addressing a range of issues relating to health and social care. The Act gives effect to the policies set out in the white paper 'Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS' (2010, Cm. 7881, ISBN 9780101788120). The main aims of the Act are to change how NHS care is commissioned through the greater involvement of clinicians and a new NHS Commissioning Board; to improve accountability and patient voice; to give NHS providers new freedoms to improve quality of care; and to establish a provider regulator to promote economic, efficient and effective provision. In addition, the Act will underpin the creation of Public Health England, and take forward measures to reform public health bodies. Parts are: The health service in England; Further provision about public health; regulation of health and adult social care services; NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts; Public involvement and local government; Primary care services; Regulation of health and social care workers; the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); Health and adult social services: information; Abolition of certain public bodies; Miscellaneous; Final provisions.