WIREDGOV

New guidance will help commissioners make sure patients can access the services that they need in the event that a health care provider runs into serious difficulties.

Under the Health and Social Care Act clinical commissioning groups are responsible for planning and purchasing health services for their local populations. That responsibility includes designating a range of services that the commissioners believe should continue to be provided locally if any individual provider is at risk of failing financially. We call these Commissioner Requested Services and Monitor has recently publishing guidance to help clinical commissioning groups identify them in their areas.

Under the provider licence, which takes effect from April 1st 2013, providers are required not to take actions that could jeopardise the provision of these services in the operation of their organisation.

The guidance follows a three month consultation process involving commissioners, providers, clinicians and patients. As a result of the feedback received Monitor will work with commissioners to help them deepen their understanding of the process and with the NHS Commissioning Board and others to develop support services.

Notes to Editors

• For media enquiries please contact Isabella Sharp, Media Relations Manager, on 020 7340 2442 (Isabella.sharp@monitor-nhsft.gov.uk).
• The full Commissioner Requested Services Guidance can be found here.  The guidance includes a Designation Framework which sets out a process commissioners could follow in order to assess which services should be Commissioner Requested Services.
• Monitor is the sector regulator of NHS-funded health care services. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 its fundamental duty is to protect and promote the interests of people who use them. Information about Monitor’s role can be found here.
• Monitor is now on Twitter - follow us @MonitorUpdate