23.09.14
Lib Dems want HWBs to commission GP services
The Liberal Democrats want GP services to be commissioned by health and wellbeing boards (HWBs), according to a policy paper circulated in the run-up to the party conference in Glasgow.
‘Protecting Public Services and Making Them Work for You’ outlines the views of the party on a range of issues including education, transport and health.
According to the paper the Lib Dems would like to see HWBs expand their role in the next Parliament and take over responsibility for commissioning from NHS England – which is currently considering ‘co-commissioning’ of primary care, giving clinical commissioning groups more say in the process.
NHS England’s current plans say: “The potential scope for co-commissioning of primary care encompasses a wide spectrum of activity, including the assessment of needs, decision making on strategic priorities with health and wellbeing boards, designing and negotiating local contracts (e.g. PMS [personal medical services]), managing financial resources, and monitoring contractual performance.”
But the new Lib Dem report says: “Where they are able to demonstrate robust and democratically accountable governance, we would like to see [HWBs] taking over NHS England’s responsible for commissioning GPs in their area, and potentially wider responsibility for local services.”
It continues: “It makes no sense, and is a major centralisation from the previous [primary care trust] arrangements for commissioning of thousands of local GPs to be carried out by one national body which has no democratic accountability.”
The paper suggests that HWBs could take on commissioning responsibility but does not state how this could be achieved. As they do not currently hold a budget it would take new legislation for them to take on a direct commissioning role.
The paper will be considered at the Liberal Democrat party conference next month in Glasgow.
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