MIAA is a member of the Internal Audit Network (TIAN) which comprises the seven NHS internal audit consortiums and in house teams operating in England. These organisations collaborate across a number of areas to leverage their collective knowledge and expertise and drive efficiency and effectiveness. The monthly insight report highlights key publications and is intended as a useful update and reference tool. This report is produced by TIAN and shared by MIAA. 

NHS England - Provider selection regime (PSR) - frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The PSR is a new set of rules for procuring health care services in England. It is set out in the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (the regulations). The regulations are accompanied by statutory guidance (the guidance) to which relevant authorities must have regard. The PSR came into effect on Monday 1 January 2024.  NHSE has issued updated FAQs about the PSR which cover 9 areas including transitional arrangements, contract modifications and framework agreements. The FAQs assist organisations when applying the PSR and describe scenarios, alongside their view of the legal framework and the likely steps required to discharge legal duties

For information and implementation by all NHS bodies

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman - People not structures: putting people at the heart of integrated care

This report, issued jointly with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, finds that integrated care systems (ICSs) are not doing enough to put the vulnerable people they support at the heart of what they do. The report details some of the things that can and do go wrong when people are not prioritised and local organisations do not work together effectively. It includes a recommendation for ICSs to agree a ‘person-first approach’ where councils and health services work together to look at how needs can be met as their first priority. It also suggests that councils and health services agree standard frameworks for effective communication.

For information and guidance - of ICS/ICBs in particular

British Red Cross - Delivering with dignity: a framework for strengthening commissioning and provision of healthcare services for people seeking asylum

This report finds that people seeking asylum in England often have complex health needs and yet face barriers to accessing timely, quality and appropriate health care. It sets out a framework of good practice to remove these barriers and ensure people can access the health care that they are entitled to.

For information

Pulse - The state of primary care: a PCN evaluation

Primary care networks (PCNs) have been the biggest change in the primary care landscape in a decade. The development of these networks has been controversial and has affected all areas of primary care. As part of the State of Primary Care survey, answered by more than 1,700 health care professionals, Pulse asked GPs, nurses, pharmacists and managers about the impact of PCNs on their profession. 

For information and guidance - of ICS/ICBs in particular

NHS Confederation - Realising the potential of primary care provider collaboratives

The new Labour government has set out an intention to move care closer to home, with a shift of resources to primary and community care. This report highlights the role of primary care provider collaboratives in supporting transformation. The report – informed by interviews with 20 leaders in collaboratives and two roundtables with wider partners involved in their formation – provides the first assessment of primary care provider collaboratives’ structures, their future ambitions, and what is needed to support their future development.

For information and guidance - of ICS/ICBs in particular

NHS Confederation - Frontline digitisation: creating the conditions for a digital NHS

Digital transformation is a significant enabler towards improved productivity and efficiency in the NHS. This report explores integrated care systems’ experiences of frontline digitization. The report highlights the reality, and the common issues, challenges and areas of improvement needed to unlock the potential of a digitally responsive and modern NHS.

For information

NHS Providers - What is the current state of NHS finances?

This briefing provides a brief history of NHS funding and outlines the current challenges NHS trusts are facing in delivering operational priorities within a pressurised financial environment.

For information

NHS Providers – Review of NHS trust strategies for addressing health inequalities

NHS trusts play a crucial role in addressing health inequalities by focusing on providing equitable access to services and ensuring patients receive a consistent level of care. Taking a strategic approach is identified as key to making progress; it can provide a helpful roadmap to achieve long-term objectives that are aligned with the trust’s overall strategy and identify the opportunities and risks to making progress. This review sets out the key components of a successful trust strategy for reducing health inequalities. It is based on desk-based research into a selection of published trust strategy documents and follow-up interviews to better understand the extent to which action on health inequalities has been prioritised.

For information

Institute for Government - Enabling integrated care systems to work better

One of NHS England's roles is to take some of the management of the NHS out of the Department of Health and Social Care. Since 2022 it has done this with the help of ICSs. However, senior officials in these bodies are still complaining about various forms of micro-management. This short paper, based on interviews with those involved in ICSs, looks at how the new arrangements can be made to work better.

For information and guidance - of ICS/ICBs in particular

Information Commissioner’s Office – Guidance & Enforcement Action 

Supply chain attacks: The ICO has written guidance to help organisations understand what supply chain attacks are, how they happen and what steps can be taken to reduce the risks. Many third parties are processing more sensitive information on behalf of other organisations than ever before. Research has found that less than half of businesses have conducted a risk assessment of their supply chain. A longer supply chain means more potential entry points for attackers.  

Failure to comply with Freedom of Information requests: The ICO has taken action against two organisations for "risking public trust" by failing to respond to public requests for information - Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) and Devon & Cornwall Police. Regarding BHRUT the ICO first contacted the Trust in June 2023 due to a number of complaints received about its late compliance with FOI requests. It was revealed that, over 12 months, the Trust had only responded to 29% of requests during the statutory timeframe, with January 2024 seeing just 2.5% of requests responded to in a timely manner. The Trust had a backlog of 589 requests in April 2024, which increased to 785 by June 2024. The ICO’s enforcement notice provides the Trust with 35 days to devise and publish an action plan to clear this backlog by the end of the year. 

Read more.

For information

HFMA – New NHS online glossary

The HFMA glossary is an online index of key NHS terms and acronyms that provides a useful tool for those working in NHS finance or related roles. Under constant review and maintained by the HFMA’s education technical content team, the glossary is a comprehensive body of work that has been developed over more than 15 years. The HFMA have now upgraded the glossary software and, for the first time, made the latest version available online for free.

For information of any staff or Non-Executives new to the NHS

Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) - Bringing it all together: financial strategies that address health inequalities

This explainer sums up the HFMA’s work on health inequalities, and explores how organisations can use financial strategies to address health inequalities.   

For information

Disclaimer: This briefing paper is intended to highlight recent developments and issues within the NHS that may be of interest to non-executive directors, lay advisers and NHS managers and teams working in the NHSE. It is not exhaustive, and TIAN cannot be held responsible for any omission.