North Tees Teaching PCT is working with United Health Group to develop a planning and capacity model, so we have a different set of experiences to the other nine PCTs who are working on the Evercare nursing model, but no less challenging.

The planning model will deliver a database of primary, secondary and social care data that can be used to support the planning, commissioning and evaluation of services across the PCT area. The database will have analytical capability allowing easy access to reports and evaluation. This function will include the ability to run scenarios to predict patient needs and service capacity in the future.

Forming a single database of this information is, in itself a challenge. We are tackling data quality issues, handling Caldicott issues for the different organisations and managing data extractions from 26 general practices with four different practice systems. During development, all of the data is being handled within the PCT, removing patient identifiers and encrypting it before handing it over to our colleagues in Minnesota. Once implemented, the model will be updated and maintained by the PCT.

Managing expectations is quite a task – there is the potential for an ever-growing list of wishes for the model to answer! Work in the coming months includes planning the implementation, day-to-day management and processes for updating the data in the model whilst the United Healthcare team are working on development of the database and analytical functionality.

Contact: Alison Roe, Project Manager.