NHS England is today announcing that another 52 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have been authorised to take on delegated responsibility for commissioning GP services.

Delegated commissioning gives CCGs further opportunities to improve out-of-hospital services. It will support the development of the new models of care set out in the NHS Five Year Forward View and provides further opportunities to develop commissioning based on improved health outcomes for local people.

The 52 CCGs will be able to operate under the new arrangements from April 2016, meaning that in addition to those already taking on these arrangements in 2015/16, approximately half of CCGs will have delegated responsibility in 2016/17.

Ian Dodge, National Director for Commissioning Strategy at NHS England, said: “This announcement is part of the wider plan to achieve placed-based commissioning. CCGs are increasingly wanting to join up the commissioning of general practice with other community services in order to develop more integrated care for their communities and patients. Provided that conflicts of interest are managed robustly and properly, we are learning that the delegated model looks most likely to deliver the greatest benefits.”

Dr. Amanda Doyle, Primary Care Co-Commissioning Programme Oversight Group Co-Chair and Chief Clinical Officer for NHS Blackpool CCG, said: “It’s good news that over 50 per cent of all CCGs will be operating under delegated arrangements, it shows ambition and enthusiasm to take the lead in changing the way care is delivered.

“If we are to truly transform out of hospital care and build primary care that will be sustainable for the future, CCGs must have the commissioning levers, as well as the resources, to succeed for their patients and local populations.”