15 September 2011

Secretary of State Supports Clinical Leaders’ Call for a Clear Vision, Local Autonomy and Flexibility

Local focus, with national support – this was one of the key messages coming from clinical commissioning leaders at the first independent national conference for clinical commissioning, organised by the NHS Alliance and NAPC, held in London yesterday.

Delegates, representing 126 CCGs around the country, voiced their concerns and views, around four key principles:

  1. CCGs need to focus on the vision of the improvement of the health of their populations.
  2. CCGs need to be locally-led, with national support, not vice versa;
  3. CCGs need both the freedom and flexibility to adopt structures tailored to meet local needs. One size will not fit all;   
  4. A CCG driven, collective, clinical approach, which includes GPs, public health specialists, nurses, allied professionals, as well as secondary care clinicians, will be pivotal to the success of CCGs.

Speaking at the conference Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, expressed his support for the principles and added: “There isn’t any argument here. I want people to focus less on structure and more on objectives.”

He went on to say that he fully supported CCG autonomy for locally-led commissioning, and added that it was the role of the NHS Commissioning Board to support CCGs to be the best they could possibly be, and not to interfere. “CCGs will have real freedom, supported by the Board, not controlled by it.”

Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, said: “The clear message that came out from yesterday’s event is that clinical leaders are enthusiastic about the possibilities and the difference clinical commissioning can make to their patients and communities. However, there is a lot of frustration with top down and centralistic approaches which could hinder, rather than facilitate, a truly locally and clinically led that is flexible and has autonomy to make a difference.”

Dr Johnny Marshall, chairman of NAPC, added: “NAPC is delighted to have the support of the Secretary of State around these very important principles and, as an organisation, we shall do our very upmost to ensure that they are recognised and embraced by all those involved in the journey of CCGs’ development’.  Dr Marshall added: ‘We are at a pivotal point in the creation of the supporting landscape for CCGs.  We have to get it right.  Unless this is recognised, the future of CCGs  and the NHS will be in jeopardy.’

Earlier in the week, the NHS Alliance and NAPC announced the launch of an independent coalition to support clinical commissioning and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

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. The National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) is a non-political, non-profit-making organisation representing and supporting the interests of all its members, both individuals and organisations working in or with primary care. It also offers support through associate membership to those bodies, which provide services to primary care or have other health-related interests. Find out more at www.napc.co.uk
  3. For more information, please email pressoffice@nhsalliance.orgor call 07772756674.