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NHS England approves first 64 CCGs to commission GP services

NHS England has approved the first batch of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to take on the responsibility for commissioning most primary care in their areas. 

From April this year, 64 GP-led CCGs will take on greater “delegated” commissioning powers for GP services with the possibility that others may follow. 

Taking on delegated responsibility from NHS England means CCGs will commission general medical services. Delegated responsibility is one of three models offered to CCGs along with joint commissioning with NHS England and greater involvement in commissioning. Decisions on which CCGs will be approved for joint commissioning will be made in the coming weeks. 

The latest announcement follows plans set out by NHS England boss, Simon Stevens, last year to give patients, communities and clinicians greater influence over how local services are developed in their area. 

Ian Dodge, national director for Commissioning Strategy at NHS England, said: “We are backing 64 CCGs who have asked NHS England for full delegated powers to improve local primary care, within a transparent and robust framework for managing conflicts of interest. 

“It is a vote of confidence in CCGs. It is part of our commitment to deliver a new deal for primary care.  And it's a critical step towards joining up the commissioning system, which in turn will help unlock new models of integrated care described in the NHS Five Year Forward View.” 

Conflicts of interest have been an issue for CCGs since their inception, and a ‘strengthened’ approach to dealing with these has been put in place for CCGs taking on the responsibility to commission primary care services. 

Dr Amanda Doyle, primary care Co-commissioning Programme Oversight Group co-chair and chief clinical officer for NHS Blackpool CCG, one of the 64 approved organisations, said: “This is a journey to enable local commissioning arrangements that can deliver the kind of integrated care, in and out of hospital that we all want to see. 

“The introduction of co-commissioning is another strong step on the path to provide a more joined up, high quality service for the future.” 

For CCGs that haven’t been approved at this stage, NHS England said it will continue to provide support to help them achieve the commissioning model that works best for them. 

The CCGs approved for ‘delegated’ primary care commissioning are: 

North 

NHS Sunderland CCG

NHS North Durham CCG

NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield CCG

NHS East Lancashire CCG

NHS Greater Preston CCG

NHS Chorley and South Ribble CCG

NHS Blackpool CCG

NHS Fylde & Wyre CCG

NHS Blackburn with Darwen CCG

NHS Bradford City CCG

NHS Bradford Districts CCG

NHS Calderdale CCG

NHS Wakefield CCG

NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG

NHS Harrogate and Rural District CCG

NHS Vale of York CCG

NHS Barnsley CCG

NHS Rotherham CCG

NHS St Helens CCG

NHS Liverpool CCG

NHS Knowsley CCG

NHS Halton CCG

NHS Oldham CCG

NHS Wigan Borough CCG 

Midlands and East 

NHS South Warwickshire CCG

NHS South Worcestershire CCG

NHS Birmingham Crosscity CCG

NHS Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG

NHS Dudley CCG

NHS Birmingham South and Central CCG

NHS Telford & Wrekin CCG

NHS Shropshire CCG

NHS North Derbyshire CCG

NHS Hardwick CCG

NHS Mansfield & Ashfield CCG

NHS Newark & Sherwood CCG

NHS Nottingham North & East CCG

NHS Nottingham West CCG

NHS Nottingham City CCG

NHS Erewash CCG

NHS Rushcliffe CCG

NHS Southern Derbyshire CCG

NHS Lincolnshire West CCG

NHS Lincolnshire East CCG

NHS South West Lincolnshire CCG

NHS South Lincolnshire CCG

NHS East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG

NHS Leicester City CCG

NHS West Leicestershire CCG

NHS Castle Point and Rochford CCG 

London 

NHS Tower Hamlets CCG

NHS Waltham Forest CCG

NHS Newham CCG

NHS Redbridge CCG

NHS Barking & Dagenham CCG

NHS Havering CCG

South 

NHS Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford CCG

NHS Hastings & Rother CCG

NHS High Weald Lewes Havens CCG

NHS South Eastern Hampshire CCG

NHS Fareham and Gosport CCG

NHS West Hampshire CCG

NHS Portsmouth CCG

NHS Gloucestershire CCG 

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