Treatments paid for by the NHS
We are looking at how we spend our money in the NHS in West Yorkshire and what treatments we pay for. Up to now, some of these choices have been different depending on where you live.
We are reviewing our commissioning policies to make sure everyone gets the same access to treatments, wherever they live in West Yorkshire. This will also make sure all our policies are in line with the latest expert advice. Commissioning policies are documents that contain information about treatments, and who can have those treatments paid for by the NHS. We are recommending changes to some of these policies.
Some people living in West Yorkshire could be affected by these changes. See this page Treatments paid for by the NHS for more information about our recommendations. You'll also find details about how you can get involved and have your say. Information about previous involvement around changes to commissioning policies is here.
Reducing differences in access to healthcare across West Yorkshire - 16.02.23
Since 2017, the Partnership has worked with local places to make commissioning policies the same across West Yorkshire. These are the documents that define thresholds and criteria for patient access to healthcare treatments. Read an update here.
Podcast about vision rehabilitation services - 21.09.22
In this eye care services podcast, Simon Labbett, a vision rehabilitation specialist talks to service user Roger Cowell. Roger, a retired nurse, lost his vision around two years ago due to a condition called Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy.
With Simon and his colleagues' support, Roger has been able to adapt to the changes which have come with his condition and is eager to share his experiences with others and spread awareness of his condition.
Seeking patients' views on delays to planned care - 24.06.22
A report into the findings of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s Planned Care Citizens’ Panel has been published today (24 June 2022), exactly one year after the panel met for the first time. Seeking patients’ views on delays to planned care caused by the pandemic covers the main themes discussed at the panel meetings. It also includes the panel’s key recommendations and information about the progress being made in tackling the backlog.
Our Planned Care Citizens' Panel - challenges and benefits
Our Planned Care Citizens’ Panel was introduced in partnership with Healthwatch to support communications around delays to planned care due to the pandemic. The panel, made up of adult volunteers from across the area who were all patients on the waiting list for planned care, was in place from June to September 2021. There were some challenges to running a temporary and virtual citizens’ panel during a pandemic, but these were outweighed by the many benefits. Read the full case study here.
Seeking patients’ views on elective recovery - 06.10.21
Our Planned Care Citizens’ Panel was introduced in partnership with Healthwatch to support communications around elective recovery in West Yorkshire and Harrogate. The panel of volunteers from across the area, all patients on the waiting list for elective care, was in place from June to September 2021. More information is available on the Planned Care Citizens’ Panel page.
Restoring planned care services - 27.04.21
At its Board meeting on 19 April, the Planned Care Alliance approved the proposal to establish a temporary Planned Care Citizens’ Panel. The aim of this virtual panel will be to support the Alliance with communications around its planned care recovery strategy. This important strategy sets out how we’ll work together across the whole of planned care to restore services and address the increased waiting list. The panel’s input and expertise will help ensure that public information is relevant, clear and that it gets to the people who need it – patients and their families, carers and services users across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. The panel will be in place for 12 weeks from 21 June to 10 September. More information about the panel is available on the Planned Care Citizens’ Panel page.
Clothing guidance when attending for scans or examinations - 03.02.21
We know that many people have privacy or dignity issues with hospital gowns and prefer not to wear them. Sometimes, having to wear a hospital gown for a scan or examination is necessary but in most cases, you can wear your own clothes. We have developed a series of clothing guidance information leaflets that explain what to wear, and what not to wear, when attending hospital for a particular scan or examination.
Working together during Covid-19 - 25.01.21
Covid-19 continues to have a severe impact on capacity for hospitals to carry out routine operations and planned (elective) care procedures. Hospitals are working hard to maintain Priority 1 surgery (urgent within 72 hours) and Priority 2 surgery (urgent within 4 weeks) during the pandemic but many routine hospital services have been suspended. Plans are being developed for how local health services will work together to address the significant waiting list for planned care, once we see a sustained reduction in the rate of new Covid-19 cases across the region.
Although 2020 was an incredibly difficult year, we did see many healthcare improvements, innovations and advancements. There has been a significant increase in the use of online communications, services and processes to help deliver health care services safely, and to support people’s health and wellbeing. More people than ever before have used technology, including telephone and video consultations to talk to healthcare professionals. A lot of people have made healthier lifestyle choices since the start of the pandemic and many have found effective ways to help manage a health condition whilst healthcare services have been restricted.
We have produced the following ‘Working together’ case studies to give you a brief outline of some of the work that has been going on during the pandemic to offer safe and effective options for healthcare at this challenging time.
- Virtual Consultations
- First Contact Practitioner Physiotherapists in Primary Care
- Improving Outpatient Appointments
Flash glucose monitoring for people with diabetes and a learning disability - 21.01.21
Flash glucose monitoring, or Flash for short, uses a sensor that is placed on the back of the upper arm and worn externally by the user, allowing glucose information to be monitored using a mobile app. This information helps the user and their clinical team to identify what changes are needed to insulin administration to achieve optimal glucose control, and therefore reducing the risk of adverse outcomes.
The original roll out of Flash only applied to select patients with type 1 diabetes. The vast majority of people who have diabetes and a learning disability have type 2 diabetes so would have not met the original criteria for Flash. All patients with a learning disability and type 1 or type 2 diabetes, who use insulin to manage their condition, will now be offered a flash glucose monitor at their next review.
Our commissioning policy for flash glucose monitoring has now been updated to reflect this change. You can view the policy, along with further information about Flash, in our Medicines and prescribing commissioning policies section.
The impact of Covid-19 on planned care services - 27.10.20
Covid-19 has had a major impact on planned care services across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. During the first peak of the pandemic, health services had to take the difficult decision to temporarily stop carrying out most planned care procedures. This was done to keep both patients and staff safe whilst services focussed on treating patients who had contracted the virus.
Things are far from being how they were before Covid-19 but planned care services that were temporarily stopped have restarted gradually and in the safest possible way for patients and staff. This section ‘planned care services in changing times’ gives an update on the current situation with planned care in West Yorkshire and Harrogate. It also looks at how patients are being prioritised, what patients need to know before they go into hospital for a planned care procedure and how patients are being supported whilst they wait for a planned care procedure.
Placing physiotherapists at the heart of primary care - 18.03.20
The First Contact Physiotherapy Practitioner Programme places physiotherapists in GP practices as a first point of contact for people with MSK conditions. Having direct access to an experienced physiotherapist means there are no unnecessary delays for MSK patients in receiving the care they need.
Consistent approaches for hip surgery and cataract surgery across the region - 15.01.20
The West Yorkshire and Harrogate Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups met in public on Tuesday 14 January 2020 where it agreed the adoption of single commissioning policies for hip replacement surgery and arthroscopic hip surgery, to be implemented across the region within the next 12 months. The policies align with the wider musculoskeletal (MSK) pathway that was introduced back in May 2019.
The Committee also agreed a single clinical pathway and policy for cataract surgery, with a timescale of up to three years for implementation. Under the new pathway, better use will be made of the many community optometrists we have in West Yorkshire and Harrogate and this will have a number of benefits for eye care services and the people who use them.
A single approach to knee surgery for West Yorkshire and Harrogate - 06.11.19
The West Yorkshire and Harrogate Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups met in public on 5 November 2019 where it agreed the adoption of single commissioning policies for knee surgery. These standardised policies cover knee replacement surgery (arthroplasty) and keyhole surgery on the knee (arthroscopy) and will be implemented across West Yorkshire and Harrogate within the next 12 months.
The policies can be found in Our West Yorkshire and Harrogate commissioning policies section, on the orthopaedic and musculoskeletal (MSK) page. You'll also find 'mapping and gapping' documents that show how the single policies compare to the existing policies of our local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
Monitoring people who take hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine to help prevent avoidable sight loss - 06.11.19
The West Yorkshire and Harrogate Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups met in public on 5 November 2019 where it agreed the adoption of a single clinical pathway and commissioning policy for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine retinopathy monitoring.
These drugs are used to treat various conditions, particularly autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, but they can cause side effects. Some people who take them for more than five years, or in high doses, are at increased risk of damage to their retina, a condition known as hydroxychloroquine retinopathy.
The introduction of this pathway and policy will ensure that local patients who are prescribed hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine are effectively monitored, preventing avoidable sight loss and avoiding unnecessary interventions.
A podcast all about eye health - 23.10.19
As part of the Improving Planned Care Programme, project teams are currently developing plans for service improvements around age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts and children’s eye services. These improvements may be in the form of a shared clinical pathway, a new use of technology or a workforce initiative for example, but all will reflect clinical evidence, best practice and patient insight.
In episode 2 of our We Work For You podcast, Steve Clark, Chair of the West Yorkshire Eye Health Network, talks about some of these eye conditions in more detail. Steve, who is also an experienced optometrist, explains what the symptoms of certain major eye conditions are and how those conditions can be treated.
In conversation with Christine Hughes, the Programme’s Communications and Engagement Manager, he also talks about a little known consequence of sight loss for many people ‘Charles Bonnet Syndrome’ and how we can keep our eyes healthy to reduce the risk of developing a major eye condition that could affect our sight.
This podcast episode all about eye health also features eye care service users Terry, Deanna, Sam, Adeel and Hajra who are all members of the Kirklees Visual Impairment Network. They talk openly about the impact of sight loss and share their experiences of living with a major eye condition.
£55k funding to support local eye care services - 07.10.19
We're delighted to announce that West Yorkshire and Harrogate has been awarded £55,000 worth of funding which has been made available by Health Education England through its workforce development fund. This funding will give local community and hospital-based optometrists the opportunity to undertake the ‘Professional Certificate in Medical Retina and Independent Prescriber’ training at the University of Bradford’s school of Optometry and Vision Science. Read more here.
A podcast all about improving planned care – 21.08.19
The first episode of the Partnership’s ‘We Work For You’ podcast features Dr James Thomas, Clinical Lead for the Partnership’s Improving Planned Care Programme. James explains what planned care actually is and how the programme is working to deliver the most appropriate and effective planned care for the people of West Yorkshire and Harrogate.
He talks about the so called ‘postcode lottery’ and why access to health services, and the eligibility criteria for them, should be the same for everyone. And how exactly is the Improving Planned Care Programme working to get rid of any variation that currently exists in West Yorkshire and Harrogate? Listen here to find out.
Building Health Partnerships in Calderdale and Wakefield - 06.08.19
For West Yorkshire and Harrogate, the aim of our collaboration with the Institute for Voluntary Action Research, through its Building Health Partnerships programme, has been to work with community and voluntary groups to improve the health of people across two specific localities, Calderdale and Wakefield. Each locality has focussed on a different initiative but they both emphasise the importance of prevention and self-care. Read more here.
Consultation on proposals for pharmacy drug reimbursements - 30.07.19
The Department of Health and Social Care is seeking views on proposals to reform some of the drug reimbursement arrangements for community pharmacy in England. Community pharmacies are paid by the NHS for each drug they dispense against an NHS prescription, as outlined in a publication known as the Drug Tariff. The arrangements generally work well, but improvements can be made to make sure that community pharmacies are paid fairly, and that the arrangements provide value for money to the NHS and taxpayers. Further information and links to the consultation documents can be accessed here. The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 17 September 2019.
Don’t risk your sight – stub out that cigarette! - 19.07.19
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is warning the millions of smokers in the UK that they are putting their sight at risk if they continue to smoke. In West Yorkshire and Harrogate, the number of people who smoke is higher than the national average so the AOP’s warning is particularly relevant for our region. Over 75,000 local people are already living with sight loss and it is estimated that this number will rise above 93,000 by 2030. Read more here.
Why quitting smoking can improve the outcome of your routine operation - 14.06.19
Smoking can have a significant impact for patients who are going through planned care or ‘elective’ care which is treatment that people choose to have to help manage a health problem, rather than treatment that is required urgently or in an emergency. Planned care includes scheduled operations such as hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery for example. Find out why today is a good day to stop smoking, particularly if you are about to undergo planned surgery, here.
How technology is helping us improve eye care - 14.05.19
A pilot scheme in North Kirklees and Wakefield will help reduce unnecessary delays in referrals, and take some of the pressure off GPs, by using technology that makes it possible for optometrists to connect to the NHS e-Referral Service and refer patients directly to the hospital eye service they need. Read more here.
Transforming musculoskeletal (MSK) services - 08.05.19
The Improving Planned Care Programme is transforming local MSK services and making positive changes that focus on clinical evidence, and on the patient as an individual. We have developed a new MSK pathway that sets out the various steps in the care of people referred onto MSK services by their GP or other healthcare professional. Read more here.
Parents show their support for local preventable sight loss campaign - 08.05.19
It’s a shocking statistic that 50% of all cases of sight loss are preventable. One of the ways we can all help to bring that percentage right down is by having regular eye tests, at least once every two years, and by encouraging others to do the same. That's exactly what Havercroft Parent Forum members are doing. Read more here.
The first of our West Yorkshire and Harrogate policies to be agreed for implementation - 03.04.19
Policies for spinal services and liothyronine for hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) are the first of our West Yorkshire and Harrogate policies to be agreed for implementation across all nine clinical commissioning groups.
Both policies were considered by the Partnership’s joint committee on Tuesday 5 March and the decision was made for them to be implemented across West Yorkshire and Harrogate.
Flash glucose monitoring for people with Type 1 diabetes – 02.04.19
We are currently working with diabetes specialists in West Yorkshire and Harrogate to update our policies on flash glucose monitoring, following the publication of new guidance from NHS England, and agree a single policy for all nine clinical commissioning groups. Read more here.
Evidence-Based Interventions - 18.03.19
NHS England’s Evidence-Based Interventions (EBI) policy will be implemented across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. The policy aims to reduce unnecessary medical procedures and prevent avoidable harm to patients by making sure that treatments routinely available on the NHS are appropriate and clinically effective. The EBI policy will ensure that people who would benefit from one of these ‘traditional’ procedures are offered them but for most people, there is a safer and less invasive alternative. Read more here.
A new public lay member for our programme - 07.03.19
The Partnership is delighted to welcome new lay member Pam Essler to the Improving Planned Care Programme. Pam has recently joined the programme’s Clinical Thresholds Working Group to represent the patient’s perspective on planned care. Read more about Pam, the Clinical Thresholds Working Group and the Improving Planned care programme here.
Our response to the Low Priority Prescribing consultation - 20.02.19
In the programme update posted on 04.01.19, we told you about the NHS England and NHS Clinical Commissioners’ consultation on items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care. This consultation focusses on eight items which have the potential to release £68m per year to spend on higher priority areas in the NHS.
The consultation closes on 28 February 2019 and you can read an overview, and access the consultation document, on the NHS England website here.
Along with other healthcare organisations, we have responded to the consultation to feed in the Partnership’s views. In summary, we agree that implementation of this policy will lead to a more equitable process for making decisions about guidance on medicines. We have also provided our views on some of the medications and products detailed within the consultation. You can read our response to the consultation in full here.
Low Priority Prescribing consultation - 04.01.19
Towards the end of 2018, NHS England and NHS Clinical Commissioners launched further consultation on prescribable items of low priority for NHS funding. This follows on from the commissioning guidance that was produced on items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care, and conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care.
The latest consultation contains recommendations on eight new items which have the potential to release £68m per year to spend on higher priority areas.
The items that are subject to the consultation fall into three categories:
- Items of relatively low clinical effectiveness.
- Items which are clinically effective but where more cost-effective items are available.
- Items which are clinically effective but, due to the nature of the item, are deemed a low priority for NHS funding.
The consultation closes on 28 February 2019 and you can read an overview, and access the consultation document, on the NHS England website here.
Our vision for eye healthcare in West Yorkshire and Harrogate - 12.12.18
The demand for eye healthcare (ophthalmology) services in West Yorkshire and Harrogate increases year on year. This growing demand, particularly around age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, diabetic eye disease and glaucoma, leads to capacity issues within the system and results in longer waiting times for patients and frustrations for service providers. To help address this problem and plan for future demand, we need to make the best possible use of existing eye healthcare services and other resources related to eye care that are already out there. Read more here.
How we can transform musculoskeletal services in Calderdale - 12.12.18
The Improving Planned Care Programme, in conjunction with the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR), held and event in Halifax that focussed on musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions that affect joints and bones. The aim of the event was to explore how partnership working can help improve health outcomes for local people who live with MSK conditions, and how we can work together to reduce the numbers of people who are affected by these conditions through awareness and prevention. Read more here.
Procedures of Limited Clinical Value - (Evidence Based Interventions) - 04.12.18
The conclusion from NHS England's consultation on Evidence Based Interventions has now been published. Evidence Based Interventions link in with one of the Partnership’s key areas of work in its ‘Improving planned care’ programme which is to review the procedures currently being carried out in West Yorkshire and Harrogate that are of limited clinical value. Read more here.
Working together to reduce unnecessary sight loss - 06.11.18
Glaucoma is a common eye condition where the optic nerve is damaged, often by the pressure of fluid inside the eye. For around 10% of those in the UK who register as being blind, having glaucoma led to their sight loss. This doesn’t have to be the outcome. For people with the condition, early diagnosis and treatment can help stop their vision getting worse and sight loss can be avoided. Read more here.