Today the national bodies NHS England and NHS Improvement published their “planning guidance", NHS Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance 2017 – 2019.

The planning guidance outlines the expectations of the national bodies for system level planning over the next two years, focussing on contracting and sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) as well as introducing a range of new national business rules. Alongside the planning guidance the draft standard contract has also been published today (summarised in a separate briefing document, to follow on our website) as well as the draft National Tariff prices and draft national CQUINs.

This briefing paper summarises the proposals, and gives NHS Providers view on them.