Organisations must seize the opportunity to transform community services when they are divested from primary care trusts, otherwise all that will be delivered is another expensive NHS reorganisation.

This is the main message contained in a briefing published by the NHS Confederation's Primary Care Trust Network.

The briefing paper, which focuses on the transfer of the control of community services away from primary care trusts (PCTs), looks at the big issues NHS organisations will need to consider to create a real change to the services patients use. Providers taking on these services will need to address a range of complex issues from technical processes such as due diligence through to managing major cultural changes and service re-design.

The PCT Network has highlighted a number of issues which still need to be resolved, including the handling of estates. It says the Government's proposed move to a system of GP-led commissioning and Any Willing Provider arrangements will present new challenges for providers of community services.

David Stout, director of the NHS Confederation's Primary Care Trust Network, said: "Our members welcome the increased focus community services have received in recent years. But it is imperative the huge amount of time and effort that has gone into shaping these services have not been in vain.

"The transformation of community services aims to create more responsive care for patients; increase the provision of care closer to home and reducing the costs of care previously carried out in acute settings. The task now lies in making sure services are properly designed to deliver that."

"We know community services will play an even bigger role in the NHS in the future as we move more care out of hospitals. Managing this change will require a shift in culture and relationships, particularly with the GP community and local authorities who will have a greater role in deciding how NHS services are shaped."

The network's report, based on feedback from a range of NHS Confederation members, says the complexity and amount of issues yet to be resolved is 'significant'. It warns the requirement for all PCTs to have completed the transfer process by April 2011 'increases pressure to focus on process issues' rather than a real transformation of services'.

David Stout added:

"We must not forget that in the midst of these changes NHS organisations still need to make significant savings. These services must be able to truly transform the way patients receive care while at the same time doing more for less money. If this is not achieved on a broad scale, all we will have will be another expensive reorganisation of services."

The report, Transfer and Transform , will be launched at the PCT Network's one day conference on community services today. The event, Community services: new providers, new commissioners, new relationships, will be attended by current and future commissioners and providers of community services.

Source:
NHS Confederation