Consultation by: NHS England
NHS England consulted on further proposed changes to the NHS Standard Contract for 2025/26, including updates on Indicative Activity Plans (IAPs), Activity Management Plans (AMPs), and the introduction of a new provider escalation process. Healthwatch Birmingham responded to highlight the importance of public understanding and patient experience in the development and implementation of these proposals.
Key Points from Our Response
Indicative Activity Plan (IAP):
We raised concerns about the clarity and accessibility of consultation documents and urged that future changes involving activity planning assumptions—such as average or minimum waiting times—be explained more clearly to the public. We recommended that section 42.25 of the contract explicitly reference patient experiences when analysing the impact of activity reductions.
Activity Management Plan (AMP):
We expressed concern about the risk of inconsistent service outcomes if activity assumptions are applied mid-contract. We called for patient experience and the needs of local populations to be considered before national implementation to avoid exacerbating health inequalities.
Escalation Process:
We supported the introduction of a new escalation route accessible to all providers and recommended including patient experiences as part of the escalation evidence where relevant.
Final Thoughts
We encouraged greater transparency and public involvement in future changes to NHS contracting processes. We emphasised the need to assess potential impacts on patient experience and health equity before adopting any new national measures.