The Specialised Commissioning Improving Value programme is a national support programme which aims to achieve measurable improvement in patient benefit or outcome whilst achieving a reduction in the cost of specialised services.

Each year NHS England spends more than £16 billion on commissioning specialised services for patients across England. Year on year the cost of health care services is increasing as a result of demographic changes, new innovation treatments and identification of new diseases. The impact of this cost growth is even greater for specialised services. In response to this, NHS England needs to make efficiency savings year-on-year, to be able to meet growing demand and to be able to offer the latest treatments to patients. A national programme board oversees this challenge and the national support team develops improving value schemes that support local commissioning teams to achieve annual efficiencies.

Improving Value through the Menu of Opportunities

The Improving Value team for specialised services has developed a menu of opportunities document which summarises national Improving Value schemes that have been developed in collaboration with Clinical Reference Groups, Programmes of Care and commissioning hubs. The aim of the document is to give an overview of each scheme, outline potential benefits & savings, provide useful tools and information such as case studies to support implementation and contact details for further information.

The document is aimed at commissioners, providers, clinicians and patient groups who may have an interest in this work.