Priority Setting

About Priority Setting – Clinical Commissioning Policies for Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group is part of the Thames Valley Priorities committee which is a region-wide Priorities Committee (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire East and Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning groups) which makes recommendations about which drugs and treatments should be low priority and which should be funded routinely.  Advice from the Committee is considered by Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group to help them make difficult decisions about which treatments should be prioritised for NHS funding locally.

The Central Southern Commissioning Support Unit provided an independent service to the Thames Valley Priorities Committee, undertaking literature searches and producing evidence-based reviews on new and current treatments for discussion by the Priorities Committee.

The Priorities Committee had a wide membership that includes GPs, pharmacists, NHS managers NHS hospital consultants, and lay representatives. This committee produces relevant clinical commissioning policies – previously known locally as Lavender Statements.

Prior to 1st April 2013 there was a similar region-wide MOBBB Priorities Committee (covering Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire East and Berkshire West Primary Care Trusts) undertook a similar role. Many of the relevant clinical commissioning policies (previously known as Lavender Statements) developed by the previous MOBBB Priorities Committee have been adopted by OCCG’s Governing Body.

NHS organisations caring for Oxfordshire patients must take account of all clinical commissioning policies when considering treatment or referral to other specialists.

Minutes from the Thames Valley Priorities Committee

The minutes can be viewed on the NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit website

Treatments not Routinely Commissioned

We have a process in place to consider referrals for individual patients for treatments that are not routinely commissioned by OCCG. See Individual (Patient) Funding Requests.

Ethical Framework

The decision making process uses an ethical framework that requires consideration of:

  • Equity
  • Health care need and capacity to benefit
  • Evidence of clinical effectiveness
  • Evidence of cost effectiveness
  • Cost of treatment and opportunity costs
  • Needs of the community
  • National policy directives and guidance
  • Exceptional need

Thames Valley CCGs - Ethical Framework for priority setting 2014

Policy Statement on European Cross Border Healthcare

This policy describes how OCCG will adhere to the European Directive 2011/24 and the policy set out by the NHS England Commissioning Board (2013) on support of European cross border health care for the local population.

 

Contact Details

For all enquiries about the health care services funded by OCCG, please contact:

Priorities Administrator
Healthcare Priorities Unit
Tel: 01865 336868
Confidential email: OCCG.priorities-oxfordshireccg@nhs.net