Commissioning support units (CSUs) are to get a new ‘operating model’, with one combined managing director.
In a strategic direction note sent out to system leaders, NHS England confirmed it would be changing the model and how services are provided across the four CSUs: Arden & GEM, Midlands and Lancashire, North of England, and South, Central & West.
The first stage of which was to ‘consolidate’ the leadership with one managing director taking on the responsibilities of all the CSUs. NHS England announced it has appointed Michael van Hemert as managing director, a role he will take up ‘no later than’ 6 May. He is currently managing director at NHS South Central and West CSU.
The note said: ‘CSUs will need to work increasingly collaboratively to operate at scale and in the most efficient and effective way, delivering high quality services and value for money while offering rewarding work for colleagues.
‘To support this collaborative approach, we need to change the current operating model and how services are provided across the four CSUs.
‘The first step towards a new operating model has been to consolidate the leadership arrangements.’
It added: ‘Each of the ICBs and system partners value local relationships and the four CSUs will continue to serve local customers, just as they do now. We would like to thank all the managing directors for their considerable contribution and years of service to the CSUs.’
NHS England confirmed to Healthcare Leader that the funding for each CSU would remain in place and all four are still in existence.
However, it said it would be ‘engaging with colleagues across the system’, including CSUs, ICBs and NHS England to ‘shape and develop proposals for the future CSU operating model’.
CSUs were first established in 2013 to provide support for commissioning activities. There were initially over 20 CSUs, but after several mergers, only four remain.
