Transparency in Outcomes

Monday 20th December 2010 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley)]

Today marks the beginning of an important shift in focus for the NHS and public health, away from focusing on politically motivated process targets, and towards what matters most: improving quality and delivering health outcomes that are among the best in the world.

I am publishing the first NHS outcomes framework, “The NHS Outcomes Framework 2011-12”, which will serve three purposes:

provide a national level overview of how well the NHS is progressing, so far as possible with international comparisons;

provide an accountability mechanism between the Secretary of State for Health and the NHS Commissioning Board: and

act as a catalyst for driving quality improvement and outcome measurement throughout the NHS by encouraging a change in culture and behaviour, including a renewed focus on tackling inequalities in outcomes.

This framework has been developed building on the proposals set out for consultation in “Transparency in outcomes—a framework for the NHS”, published in July, and the nearly 800 responses to the consultation.

This first NHS outcomes framework looks only to set the direction of travel for the NHS, and will not be used in this coming year for accountability purposes. No levels of ambition are attached to the indicators. For 2011-12, the business, finance and performance rules are set out in “The NHS Operating Framework for England 2011-12”. The NHS outcomes framework will be refined annually, and the next iteration, for 2012-13 will be published in 2011, and will be used to hold the proposed NHS Commissioning Board to account once it takes its statutory place (subject to parliamentary approval).

Alongside the NHS outcomes framework, I am publishing a formal Government response to the consultation “Transparency in outcomes—a framework for the NHS”, an impact assessment and equality impact assessment for the first framework and technical detail on the indicators presented in the framework.

Today I am also publishing “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Transparency in Outcomes—Proposals for a Public Health Outcomes Framework”, which seeks views on a new strategic outcomes framework for public health at national and local levels. This document was proposed in the recent public health White Paper.

This consultation is an opportunity to collect the views of public health professionals, NHS commissioners, local authorities, service providers, particularly the voluntary and independent sector, and all other interested parties. The consultation will close at the end of March 2011.

Both outcomes frameworks have been designed so that where joint working and alignment is essential to improving outcomes, the NHS and Public Health England are held to account for working together.

All documents have been placed in the Library. Copies are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.