Health Innovation North West Coast is supporting Cheshire and Merseyside ICB to strengthen data-driven commissioning through the development and implementation of the Strategic Commissioning Tool.
Working in partnership with the ICB since early 2025, Health Innovation North West Coast has provided a coordinated package of support spanning programme delivery, change management and independent evaluation.
This has ensured the tool is not only developed, but embedded into practice, helping to build capability, confidence and readiness for more data-informed commissioning decisions across the system.
More than 150 ICB staff are now using the Strategic Commissioning Tool, which enables users to analyse population health data, assess risk, benchmark performance and model future scenarios. As one of only three national incubator sites, Cheshire and Merseyside is helping to shape how the tool will be used to support commissioning more widely.
Alongside technical development, Health Innovation North West Coast has played a key role in strengthening system capability. The programme is supporting commissioners to think differently about how data can inform decision making, while laying the foundations for future changes to business cases and commissioning approaches.
A particular strength of the partnership has been Health Innovation North West Coast’s ability to bring together programme management, evaluation and system coordination. This includes supporting recruitment and secondments, aligning delivery across teams, and ensuring that learning is captured and shared. Even where outcomes are still emerging, this approach ensures the system benefits from insight, reflection and continuous improvement.
Independent evaluation has provided further value, identifying key enablers and barriers to adoption. Early learning is already shaping the next phase of implementation, with a focus on building user confidence, embedding the tool into core processes, and supporting long-term engagement.
Andrea Astbury, Associate Director Population Health Management Strategy, Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, said: “The support we have received from Health Innovation North West Coast has been invaluable to Cheshire and Merseyside ICB in helping to develop and implement the national Strategic Commissioning Tool.
“Experts from a range of fields have contributed to the project, providing objectivity, evaluation, structure and co-ordination across numerous strands of complex areas of work.”
Ruth Harris, Senior Programme Manager for Health Innovation North West Coast, has led the work and said: “While the long-term impact on commissioning outcomes will take time to fully realise, the programme is already demonstrating clear value – building capability, strengthening relationships and preparing the system to make better use of data in the future.”
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