There is an emerging need for a faster delivery of commissioning policies on health technologies where decision making can be undertaken with a thorough but less detailed review of evidence than is currently mandated by the agreed terms of reference for the collaborative Peninsula Health Technology Commissioning Group. This has led to the development of the Peninsula Commissioning Priorities Group. The existing Peninsula Heath Technology Commissioning Group has an established process with delegated authority from the four Primary Care Trusts. The decisions are taken following consideration of the evidence of clinical benefit and cost effectiveness (assessed as the incremental cost per quality adjusted life year-cost/QALY) presented in a Heath Technology Assessment.  

In order to meet the demand for additional commissioning policies, mainly for drugs, devices and procedures, a different process has been supported. Decisions will be made based on the evidence of benefit and financial implications of the proposal where cost effectiveness is not considered pivotal to the decision. In these circumstances commissioning policy decision making will be undertaken by the Peninsula Commissioning Priorities Group. Approval of the terms of reference of the Peninsula Commissioning Priorities Group and delegation of decision making authority by NHS Plymouth, NHS Devon and Torbay Care Trust has been confirmed. NHS Cornwall & Isles of Scilly currently wish to retain decision making by its Clinical Commissioning Board but are still part of the Peninsula Commissioning Priorities Group membership.    

The Peninsula Commissioning Priorities Group meeting process will be part II business of the Peninsula Health Technology Commissioning Group meeting enabling quick decisions to be made but operating under different terms of reference. As part of the transition from Primary Care Trust-led commissioning to GP Consortia-led commissioning, GP members from the Consortia will be invited to join the Group. Core membership may evolve naturally as commissioning policy is developed through the process. The introduction of the Peninsula Commissioning Priorities Group will introduce a further choice in the triage of decision making for the primary care organisation of the newly formed Devon Cluster and NHS Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust. 

The process and organisation is hosted by NHS Devon run by the Commissioning Public Health Directorate. Any queries please contact clinicaleffectiveness.devonpct@nhs.net

Click on the links below for further information:

• Governance documents
• Commissioning policies
• Plain language commissioning decisions for patient information until NICE guidance issued
• Work programme