Evidence Based Interventions (EBI) Programme
for Interventions Not Normally Funded (INNF)
A National Evidence Based Interventions (EBI) programme
The EBI programme is an initiative led by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) to improve the quality of care for patients. You can find more information on the AoMRC website.
The EBI programme is supported by five partners: NHS England, NHS Confederation, the Patients Association, the National Institute for Health, and Care Excellence (NICE) and Getting it Right First Time (GiRFT).
The EBI programme was developed in 2018 to help ensure a national approach to quality improvement takes place and that best practice is spread across the healthcare system. From the outset it had the following key principles:
- Improve the quality of care for everyone.
- Reduce the risk of harm to patients.
- Minimise unwarranted variation in service provision.
- Optimise the use of finite resources and ensure any money saved is spent on other, more effective treatments.
A Local Evidence Based Interventions (EBI) programme
The EBI programme in Somerset assists with funding for surgical and non-surgical interventions that are not normally funded (INNF) within the NHS and provides funding for patients with clinical healthcare needs that may not be met through existing NHS care pathways.
NHS Somerset ICB commission 67 surgical and non-surgical Interventions Not Normally Funded (INNF) by the NHS, that cover a range of medical treatments for the population of Somerset.
Each intervention is underwritten by a clinical commissioning policy (CCP) to support clinically effective, safe, and cost-effective interventions for the Somerset population.
GPs, secondary care clinicians and healthcare practitioners can apply for funding of interventions on behalf of their patients, by completing and submitting an individual funding request application form to the EBI team at ebisomerset@nhs.net
The EBI team follow a robust and equitable local decision-making pathway to enable all patients with a demonstrated clinical healthcare need ‘to receive the right treatment at the right time’.
EBI Decision-making Pathway
Pre-screening
To ensure the correct patient details and referring GP /clinician signature is provided in the application.
Screening
To assess the clinical evidence provided in the application against the relevant clinical commissioning policy criteria.
Clinical triage to the EBI Clinical Lead
To enable a more informed decision to be taken on a particular individual funding request as appropriate.
Clinical triage to the EBI Panel (EBIP)
Reconsideration by the EBI Panel
Right of Appeal
Evidence Based Interventions (EBI) Treatment Pathways
Patients can access one of three referral to treatment pathways in Somerset for interventions not normally funded (INNF) by the NHS.
Prior Approval (PA) funding requests require funding in place before a patient can receive a referral for a particular intervention. PA funding requests are subject to approval based on the set clinical commissioning policy criteria for each intervention.
PA Requests are administered in-house by the EBI team who follow a robust Individual Funding Request process that aligns with NHSE Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Individual Funding requests.
NHSE Standard operating procedures individual funding requests
Generic EBI funding requests require funding in place before a patient can receive a referral for a particular intervention. Generic EBI funding requests are subject to approval based on clinical evidence to support ‘Clinical Exceptionality’.
A patient, who has a medical condition of which their clinical circumstances are exceptional when compared to a cohort of patients with the same condition, can be considered for referral on grounds of clinical exceptionality.
Please note. To eliminate discrimination for patients, social, environmental, workplace, and non-clinical personal factors cannot be taken into consideration. For more information see NHSE Commissioning Policy individual funding requests
Generic EBI Funding Requests are administered in-house by the EBI team who follow a robust Individual Funding Request process that aligns with NHSE Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Individual Funding requests.
NHSE Standard Operating Procedures individual funding requests
Criteria Based Access (CBA) surgical and non-surgical interventions do not require funding in place before a patient receives treatment however, the treating clinician MUST ensure that their patient meets the set criteria set out in the associate clinical commissioning policy prior to referring the patient for treatment.
