Green light for East Lancashire’s GP consortiums move (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Green light for East Lancashire’s GP consortiums move

6:00am Thursday 9th February 2012 in News By Neil Docking, Reporter

EAST Lancashire’s GP consortiums have passed the first test towards taking over the planning and buying of health services.

Under the Government’s NHS reforms, primary care trusts will be abolished in 2013.

Their work will be taken on by doctor-led organisations, known as CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups) and a national NHS Commissioning Board.

GPs will buy health services including planned hospital care, rehabilitative care, urgent and emergency care, some out of hours services, most community health services and mental health and learning disability services.

NHS North, the new strategic health authority, reviewed all CCGs in the north of England.

Blackburn with Darwen CCG and NHS East Lancashire CCG both received a ‘green’ traffic light rating for all four elements they were assessed against.

They had to demonstrate that they had the support of local GP practices, were the right size for the population they will serve, will be in a strong position to become statutory commissioning bodies and aim to give patients greater choice and involvement in decisions about their care.

Dr Chris Clayton, Blackburn with Darwen CCG chairman, said: “GPs, through their direct relationship with patients, hospitals and carers, are able to see the whole picture and advise on the best way to design health services.

“We have developed a CCG that matches the borough boundaries because we hope to be able to work with the council and partners to influence some of the underlying social problems that cause our greatest health challenges.

“By taking delegated responsibility for commissioning local health services this year, we can ensure we are in a strong position to take full responsibility next year.”

GP leaders from each borough covered by NHS East Lancashire – Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale – have agreed to form an East Lancashire CCG.

Dr Mike Ions, East Lancashire CCG chairman, said: “Throughout 2012 the CCG will be operating in ‘shadow form’ and we will work with NHS East Lancashire to ensure that there is a smooth transition locally.

“Passing this first test provides external validation of our early progress and the significant amount of work already undertaken by the CCG and the PCT to ensure that clinical commissioning will work both for doctors and for the patients they serve.”