Preparing Strategic Service Development Plans [SSDPs]
Since 2005 we have been commissioned by over 20 PCTs nationwide to prepare SSDPs on their behalf.  Commissioning organisations are required to conduct a thorough analysis of the current primary care estate and the provider market, in conjunction with appropriate public health analysis and population/activity forecasting, in order to publish an SSDP.

Changes in provision of enhanced local community and primary care services are happening quickly and there are ample opportunities to be “cutting edge” in this area.  “Practice-Based Commissioning: Early Wins, Top Tips” (2007) and “Shifting Care Closer to Home” (2007) address these themes.  By focusing more services in the ‘interface’ of primary and secondary care (such as out-patient follow-ups, minor surgery, basic diagnostic tests and allied professionals such as physiotherapists, for example) while developing innovative care pathways, commissioners can address better key priority areas such as improved access, patient convenience and choice and improved patient pathway development.  A high-quality SSDP will help a PCT to capitalise on these changes.
 
Our SSDP work is normally carried out in three key stages:
  1. Preparatory work including meetings with key contacts at your PCT and identifying documents and data to be used in the work.  We would also want to carry out a number of structured interviews with stakeholders from across your health and social care community.
  2. A developmental assessment of existing premises, including those currently under construction or planned, and across all services (acute, general practice and community) which would build on your existing Estates Strategy.
  3. Preparation of the SSDP itself, to include a checklist to prioritise the services which should be delivered from GP surgeries (aligning with existing strategies such as the PCT’s 5-year commissioning strategy and community hospitals strategy) and carrying out consultation with key stakeholders to ensure that this checklist is robust and achievable.  Consultation should include holding a stakeholder workshop.

The outcome of our involvement will include:

  • a fully written SSDP as recommended by Department of Health guidance
  • a robust assessment of public health needs
  • targeted service development suggestions for hard-to-reach (equality access) groups and other deprived population groups
  • stakeholder opinions
  • public/patient feedback
  • an activity forecasting model.  This model would take into consideration:
    o Projected population growth
    o Current utilisation rates and past growth of services
    o Modelling techniques based on an agent choice model (simulating the patient experience at every step of the patient journey to conduct demand forecasting)
    o Benchmarking with other similar service changes across the country
  • A space analysis including schedules of accommodation.

It should also be emphasised that the proposed approach aims to ensure full ownership of the final document by the key stakeholders.  From our experience, both the structured interviews and the consultation event are good ways of ensuring that people feel involved in the process and responsible for the conclusions and recommendations therein.