06.03.12
Dissatisfaction with commissioning support for CCGs
A survey by the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) and the NHS Alliance (NHSA) on commissioning support for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) has revealed widespread dissatisfaction.
The survey, conducted in January, got 95 responses from across the four strategic health authority clusters: NHS London, NHS North ofEngland, NHS Midlands and East, and NHS South ofEngland.
It showed that less than a fifth of respondents were content with the rolling out of the programme of commissioning support, with 84.2% indicating they had not been given sufficient information about the choices of support available and would welcome more.
20% of respondents indicated they had decided to use their local PCT cluster offering because they were too busy to explore alternative arrangements, whilst 26.7% indicated they has opted for their PCT clusters’ offering because relationships with PCT support staff were good.
Dr Charles Alessi, a senior figure in the Clinical Commissioning Coalition, said: “This survey is just a snapshot of what is taking place locally around the country. Overall, the results do not inspire any confidence in the manner in which the clinical commissioning reform agenda is being rolled-out, nor, specifically, in the fact that CCGs are being allowed to exercise the very judgement that will be needed to meet the challenges of the NHS modernisation agenda.
“The Health & Social Care Bill was intended to liberate clinicians to work with their patients. But the reality, as the implementation agenda unfurls, is that what we are seeing here is central control, which is incompatible with the intentions of the bill. Clinicians must be given the scope to determine with whom they work and at what price. The propositions being put forward in some SHA clusters will severely restrict CCGs’ ability to transform and modernise care.
“As the Coalition, NAPC and NHS Alliance will be voicing its concerns with the top of the office team at the Department of Health. Unless our concerns are addressed, the NHS will no longer be able to offer care to all free at the point of delivery across the range of services currently available and this country will regress in terms of the quality of care it offers and its status among first world Western countries.”
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