Commissioning and social determinants: evidence and opportunities

Abstract

This chapter argues that local authorities can and should use their purchasing power strategically to address the social determinants of health that affect their local area. It examines commissioning and procurement as local authority functions, defining these concepts and exploring the conceptual confusion between the two. The chapter then looks at the evidence of current practice of local authorities (with a particular focus on local authorities in the UK) in strategic use of their purchasing power. Core to the argument is the role of local voluntary organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), so there is a particular focus on the commissioning experience of these types of organisations. Finally, the chapter makes the case for the role that voluntary sector organisations can play in addressing social determinants of health, before drawing some broad conclusions about the way forward.