The first year of the NHS Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention programme has released £2.5 billion in savings, deputy chief executive David Florey has reported.

This figure is around 42% of the forecast annual total. The QIPP programme requires the NHS to deliver efficiency savings of up to £20 billion by 2014-15. David Florey's report, covering the second quarter 2011-12, sees 'good progress', but emphasises that the Service must maintain its focus to achieve the additional £3.4 billion savings which it needs to make by March 2012.

Florey stated: 'The winter period presents an annual challenge and this will continue to be the case this year. It is vital that the NHS plans and prepares for this to ensure that the positive momentum built up in the first two quarters is maintained."

The report also shows that Q2 saw greater involvement from emerging clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in the ownership and delivery of QIPP in their local areas in collaboration with existing Primary Care Trust (PCT) clusters. "We have noted a reduction in GP written referrals into the acute sector, which is a positive indication of active GP engagement with QIPP and demonstrates a focus on referral practices to begin to shape service delivery for the future," said Florey.

Further information: NHS Financial position summary