By Dr Michael Dixon

Twelve years and a General Election in the near future make it a good time to take stock for the NHS and NHS Alliance. Starting with the past, let’s pause for a second and celebrate our successes.

The quest for an NHS that delivers top quality services at a cost-effective price is the focus of a new policy/discussion document just published by the NHS Alliance. Called Sustaining the Vision: how the NHS can survive the looming financial crisis, the report debates how world class services can be achieved at a time when the NHS must cope with limited, zero or even negative economic growth.

The nine winners of the NHS Alliance Acorn Awards 2009 received their certificates at The NHS Alliance Annual Conference held in Manchester. Commenting on the awards Michael Sobanja, chief executive of the NHS Alliance, said: “The NHS is an incredible organisation that achieves much more than it is given credit for; it is also a hard taskmaster. That’s why the Acorn Awards are so important.

Many years ago I worked with a doctor who always began answering every concern or problem put to him by his patients with the word "good". I once asked him why he did this and his reply was that it gave him time to think and it started things off on a positive note! Amidst our bleak mid winter, financial downturn and political uncertainty we may need to develop a similar mindset. In fact things are pretty good already.

The NHS Alliance's Non-Executive Directors Network (NEDNET), is establishing a new website with plans to launch it this month (October). In line with NEDNET's priorities for 2010, the website is intended to allow Non Executive Directors to exchange information and discuss good practice and experiences

PCTs are looking to further improve patient care, save money, reduce hospital admissions, improve primary care services and demonstrate a commitment to commissioning services from a wider range of providers.

By Dr Michael Dixon

This year's NHS Alliance conference in Manchester is set to be primary care's "finest hour". An NHS beset by limited, zero or even negative economic growth is having to think again. How can we improve patients' ability to help themselves, improve their personal health and develop better health within the wider community?

Wendy Evans, Practice Manager Lead, NHS Alliance talks about the NHS Practice Management Network.

City Hospitals Sunderland Foundation Trust is planning to enter into a pilot integrated care scheme with a local primary care provider, Church View Medical Practice. Under the scheme, City Hospitals Sunderland Foundation Trust and Church View Medical Practice will merge into one entity, whereby City Hospitals Sunderland Foundation Trust will directly employ the staff of the Church View Medical Practice. But the pilot integrated care scheme proposed by City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is against the best interest of both patients and taxpayers, argues the NHS Alliance.

Pharmacy service commissioning is a major challenge for PCTs, said Michael Sobanja, Chief Executive, NHS Alliance.