The annual CCG assessment by NHS England has rated NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as ‘Good’.
The rating was recently confirmed by NHS England’s Statutory Committee. It highlights that there are many areas where the CCG is in the top 25% of CCGs nationally, with a good understanding of areas that can improve further, ‘providing a solid foundation for moving forward in 2019/20’.
The CCG was commended by NHS England for maintaining the Good rating from the previous year.
NHS England also praised the CCG for:
- Their contribution to the delivery of the Five Year Forward View and its continued focus on driving improvements across health and social care for local people through partnership working, within the challenging context of ever-increasing demand.
- Being rated in the top quartile of CCGs nationally on various indicators which includes high quality care – acute, working relationship effectiveness, utilisation of the NHS e-referral service and appropriate prescribing in relation to AMR (antimicrobial resistance)
Peter Rooney, the CCG’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “The CCG has worked hard to maintain our Good rating. This recognises the continued improvement to local services, benefitting patients across the NHS in North Cumbria. This includes progress in integrating health and care and some great steps forward working with communities and partner organisations through the Working Together Groups.”
It also acknowledged key areas of challenge and improvement faced by the CCG including:
- Ensuring a constant focus on finance and delivery of QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention)
- Continue to deliver the requirements set out in ‘Building the Right Support’ through transformation of local services, developing person centred community models of care and support which lead to positive quality outcomes.
64% of CCGs are now rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, up from 58% in the previous year.
NHS Clinical Commissioner’s (NHSCC) chief executive, Julie Wood, said that the ratings were “well-deserved recognition of the hard work that CCGs across the country are doing to make a positive difference for the people they serve.”
The NHS England annual assessment information is available on their website at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/regulation/ccg-assess/iaf/