06.04.16
Four-fifths of GPs feel they can’t influence CCG decisions
Only one in five grassroots GPs feel able to influence decisions in their local CCG, a new survey from the King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust warns.
The latest survey of six representative CCGs, which it has carried out annually since they were introduced in 2012, found that one fifth of GPs without a formal role in the CCG felt able to influence decisions, four fifths were either neutral or negative about the introduction of co-commissioning and one fifth felt that the CCG did not effectively manage conflicts of interest.
The percentage of GPs agreeing with the statement ‘I can influence the work of the CCG if I chose’ had also declined by 10% since CCGs were introduced, from 30% in 2013 to 20% in 2016.
In the same period, the percentage who felt well-informed about the CCG’s goals went down from 43% to 38%.
The grassroots GPs agreeing that decisions made by the CCG reflected their views had declined from 34% in 2015 to 29% this year, and the percentage agreeing that the CCG felt like it was owned by its members had declined from 27% to 23%.
Only 5% of GPs felt being part of a CCG had made a significant change to the quality of care they provided.
Among GP leaders, the proportion who were ‘highly engaged’ in the work of the CCG fell from 83% in 2013 to 64% in 2016, 40% did not have the time necessary to fulfil their work on the CCG and 36% thought that their commissioning role was having a negative impact on their clinical role.
The news comes at a time of increasing pressure for GPs, following a BMA survey finding that 10% of GP surgeries are financially unsustainable and 46% are planning to retire or leave general practice.