Further to the white paper last week, please note ‘Andrew Lansley has put out a consultation document on the “outcomes framework” he is creating for the NHS. Put bluntly, these are the five criteria that the government will use to decide whether the NHS Commissioning Board (which oversee commissioning in the new devolved system) is doing a good job.

The five proposed criteria are:
• Preventing people from dying prematurely
• Enhancing the quality of life for people with long-term conditions
• Helping people to recover from episodes of ill health or following injury
• Ensuring people have a positive experience of care
• Treating and caring for people in a safe environment and protecting them from avoidable harm.

Please see the related press release on the Department of Health website:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Pressreleases/DH_117628

(Source: the Guardian, 19/07/2010)