This comes after KPMG associate Time Rideout told a Wetminster Health Forum event yesterday that the firm was working with ‘about 50’ of the 211 CCGs in England and 'half' of the 23 commissioning support units (CSUs).
A KPMG spokesman later confirmed that the firm is working with 'just over 50' CCGs and 11 CSUs.
Mr Rideout made the comments at the central London event on independent and third sector involvement with clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and commissioning support services.
Mr Rideout said that CCGs did not have the capacity to commission in an effective way.
‘The key message that comes from CCGs is that commissioning support is absolutely essential if they are going to succeed,' he said. 'They do not have the capability within the CCGs themselves to commission in an effective way.
‘[NHS chief executive] Sir David Nicholson said that this is a change so big that you can see it from space, and that is still the case. KPMG works with about 50 CCGs currently and about half of CSUs so we have a great opportunity to talk to people on the ground about how the reforms are progressing.’
National clinical commissioning lead for England Dr James Kingsland told the attendees at the event that the NHS had probably lost too many managers.
He also said that clinicians on CCGs should not be involved in complex procurement, and he revealed that the ‘mood music’ across CCGs was mixed.
‘We are seeing a lot of misunderstandings, disillusionment and despondency’, he said.
