‘Ascent ready?’ Quantifying and analysing the commissioning function of payor organizations in the English NHS

Abstract This article describes the results of a systematic audit of the commissioning function of a primary care trust in England in 2009. Although the context of the research was specific to a payor organization operating in a publicly funded health system, the lessons to be drawn from the methodology and results are applicable in a much broader range of settings. The paper describes how it is possible to classify, quantify, and analyse a function as complex and multi-stranded as health-care commissioning in a way that provides results that are operationally and strategically useful. Analysis provided data for use by senior management as to the resource available to support specific tasks and programmes (collections of related tasks). The conclusions identified areas for action in respect of workforce development, organizational development, and project management.