The operating framework sets out a brief overview of the priorities for the NHS next year. It is accompanied by annexes (some part of the document, some web-based only) which provide more detail on the priorities, how they are measured and how the new arrangements for managing the system will work.
The operating framework 2009-10: for the NHS in England sets out:
- The health and service priorities for 2009/10: Strengthening the focus on subsidiarity whilst maintaining the 5 national priorities and the Vital Signs agreed for the 3 year CSR period 2008/09 – 2010/11. Patient experience is the final arbiter of success.
- A system designed to deliver quality: making quality the organising principle of the NHS. The local visions set out in High Quality Care for All puts quality at the centre of all the NHS does, this focuses on the levers and incentives to further build on this, including staff engagement for the benefit of patients and the public.
- The financial regime: Maintaining a framework that supports quality and innovative improvements in services within available resources. Key to this is asking the NHS to go further to ensure it makes the best use of taxpayers’ money.
- The business processes: Ensuring that planning is based on locally led decision making and maintaining the emphasis on genuine partnership working at a local level with local government and other partners.
As referenced in Annex D of the operating framework, we will shortly be publishing the documentation for the new standard NHS contracts for acute hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services and supporting guidance, which should be read in conjunction with The NHS in England: The operating framework for 2008/09 Annex D - Principles and rules for co-operation and competition, published December 2007.
The operating framework is underpinned by the PCT allocations, the road testing of the new tariff, the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation Payment Framework, and Informatics planning guidance.