Half of CCGs will commission general practice from 2016

The CCGs will take on the powers from April, bringing the total number of groups with delegated powers to around half of the 209 across England.

CCGs with delegated commissioning powers manage contracts, including designing PMS and APMS deals, take contractual action such as serving remedial notices and removing contracts, and will have power over locally agreed and nationally set enhanced services - LESs and DESs - and the design of local QOF alternatives. They will be able to establish new practices, approve mergers and award discretionary payments.

The GP-led groups are able to improve services and support the development of new care models.

GP-led commissioning

NHS England’s national director for commissioning strategy Ian Dodge 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.’

Primary care co-commissioning programme oversight group co-chair Dr Amanda Doyle added: ‘It’s good news that over 50% 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.’

CCGs taking on delegated responsibility from April 2016, subject to signing the delegation agreement, are:

North

Midlands and East

London

South