More CCGs set to take on commissioning of GP services
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.”
4 comments
Does this mean that there will be GP’s commissioning GP practices to provide primary care services? How will NHS England robustly manage and have oversight regarding conflicts of interest.
Does this mean that GP’s could investigate and reply to formal complaints against GP’s in their local commissioning area. Again, How will NHS England robustly manage and have oversight regarding conflicts of interest.
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your comment.
Co-commissioning enables clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to take part or full responsibility for commissioning (buying) local GP services and therefore brings more clinical input into the development of local primary care services. Co-commissioning aims to support the development of the new models of care set out in the NHS Five Year Forward View and more integrated out-of-hospital services.
Health commissioners have always had to manage conflicts of interest as part of their day-to-day work. Before co-commissioning was introduced, robust statutory guidance on managing conflicts of interest for CCGs was developed with national partners and regulators.
The guidance includes a requirement for CCGs to maintain a register of interests, a register of procurement decisions and sets out what should happen when a conflict arises. For example, when a member of a decision making body has a material interest, they would either be excluded from parts of the meeting or discussions and would not have a vote on the matter.
A sample audit is underway to look at how co-commissioning arrangements are working in practice, and to identify the strongest approaches to conflicts of interest management and these to be adopted across organisations. The statutory guidance will be revised for the new financial year and will include further requirements about declarations of hospitality and gifts.
For your second question, if you wish to make a complaint about the care you have received in primary care, the complaints regulations offer you the choice of complaining either to the provider of the service (in this case the GP practice) or the commissioner, which even in areas where co-commissioning is in place would remain as NHS England. To make a complaint to NHS England you can get in touch by email, by phone or by post.
Kind Regards
NHS England
but some CCGs are taking the opportunity to put Out of Hospital Services out to tender – the privatisation of the NHS that millions of people are so desperately worried about. Very bad news indeed
come and take a look at Halton NHS cheshire widnes to be correct and see what nhs halton and the system done to my family …been without a gp for nearly 12 mths that includes my granddaughter of 18 mths ….the thing is a complete fiasco