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New operating model for child health information services IT Services

The NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) has today publishing Securing Excellence in IT Services: Operating Model for Child Health Information Services (CHIS). The purpose of the operating model is to provide a system which ensures the safe transfer of commissioning responsibilities from Primary Care Trusts to ensure that all existing information systems and associated support for child health information, including the Personal Child Health Record [“Red Book”], continue to exchange data with partners and share information with parents and carers. This is important to provide clarity to all stakeholders, safety for patients and business continuity for the NHS.

The NHS CB from the 1 April 2013 will be responsible for commissioning certain public health services under section 7A of the National Health Service Act 2006, as part of the system design to drive improvements in population health.  Public Health England will support NHS CB’s operational responsibilities as delegated by the Section 7A agreement and to ensure that the arrangements are robust.

The NHS CB will undertake responsibility for ensuring CHIS systems and associated services are commissioned effectively from any able provider that meets technical and resource capability. The CHIS IT provision must be compliant with process and exchange information as determined by the NHS CB. The CHRD (or equivalent function) must be adequately resourced and staffs trained to record and manage the relevant data within the child’s care record.

These changes come into force on 1 April 2013.  We are publishing the operating model now to enable further key steps in the implementation of the new system to ensure delivery by this date and to enable preparatory work – such as the development of standard operating procedures and processes across service providers – to take place.

The new arrangements as described in the operating model will be kept under review. The NHS CB will ensure they are achieving what they are designed to do within the context of the emerging commissioning system.