Pan-London commissioning for Michael Palin Centre
Children across London are now able to access specialist help for their stammering problems, thanks to a new commissioning agreement.
Rachel Tyndall, CEO for NHS Islington, has successfully negotiated pan-London funding agreements for young people who require specialist help at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children (MPC).
Following his visit to the MPC in November 2007, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls asked Rachel to seek a solution to the anomalies in funding for specialist therapy. Rachel said
“I was delighted to help secure funding to ensure children and young people receive services from the Michael Palin Centre. I am sure that all London PCTs will recognise the value for money of the services offered” (May 2009)
NHS Islington runs the MPC in partnership with a charity, the Association for Research into Stammering in Childhood.
This charity fully funds a specialist consultation service for families and their local SLTs who request additional guidance about stammering.
Following the consultation, the majority of youngsters continue their therapy with their SLT locally.
However, about one-third require more specialist treatment at the MPC, perhaps because of the complexity of their problem or because a local service is not available for their age group. In these cases, an application is made for NHS funding from the local PCT.
The new pan-London agreement means the majority of the 31 PCTs have signed up to either a cost-per-case or a collaborative commissioning arrangement.
Based on previous data, this represents up to three children or teenagers per trust who will be able to attend the MPC without undue delays or costly negotiations.
Funding for children and teenagers who live outside the London area will still be dependent on approval by their local PCT on an individual basis.
For further information please contact: Frances Cook, Head of Specialty, Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children, NHS Islington, Finsbury Health Centre, Pine Street, London EC1R 0LP. Email: frances.cook@islingtonpct.nhs.uk, tel: 020 7530 4238.
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