30 November 2011

Clinical Commissioners Are Ready to Lead

In his opening speech at the 14th NHS Alliance conference, chairman Dr Michael Dixon will talk about concerned CCG leaders, who are being excluded from crucial decision-making about how their organisations will be set up and run.

He will say: “The week before last, I had over 30 emails from concerned CCG leaders. Each told its own story; stories of commissioning support being imposed, of staff being appointed without consultation and of crucial meetings being arranged with less than twelve hours’ notice."

Dr Dixon will reiterate the need for patients to be put first, especially when considerations about competition, markets and health care delivery are being used to disempower clinical commissioning. “I know too that many people, especially primary care clinicians, are concerned about too much competition, too much privatisation and too much market. I share these concerns."

“There must be balances, of course. But these concerns are poor reason to turn your back on clinical commissioning. They are every reason to embrace it. It enables us to make sure that our patients really do come first. Not the ideology of markets, nor of competition nor the private sector.”

According to Dr Dixon, clinicians will lead by joining and supporting Clinical Commissioning Groups to ensure they are empowered to do what is best for their patients.

“You must claim sovereignty once you have been authorised,” he will say, “and the Clinical Commissioning Coalition will ensure that you can. You must be empowered to decide what is best for your patients – not the National Commissioning Board, not Monitor, not the Senates, not anyone else! You must do this as disinterested advocates of your patients and local people. Able, as only clinicians can, to balance the good of the individual with the good of your whole local population.”

Notes

  1. NHS Alliance brings together GP consortia, PCTs, clinicians and managers as the leading organisation in primary care. We are an independent non-political membership organisation proud to be at the forefront of clinically-led commissioning. Its leaders are all dedicated professionals, who represent the Alliance’s diverse membership, working ceaselessly to meet the challenges facing the NHS today. Find out more at www.nhsalliance.org.  
  2. For more information, please email pressoffice@nhsalliance.orgor call 07772756674.