NHS England should provide more ‘clarity’ to CCGs

More must be done to clarify the role of clinical commissioners around assuring quality, a report has suggested. 

Published by The Nuffield Trust and the King’s Fund, the report states that although GPs are aware of the need for change they are under increasing pressure. 

However, some GPs are building organisations which manage to offer a greater range of services to their local community. 

The report, which was commissioned by the former NHS Midlands and East strategic health, calls for a new national framework for the future of primary care developed by NHS England together with GPs, CCGs and patient groups. 

An alternative contract for primary care is needed, to encourage groups of practices to take collective responsibility, the report suggests. 

Clinical commissioning groups also need more clarification from NHS England around their precise role in developing, commissioning and assuring the quality of primary care. 

Nuffield Trust director of policy and lead author Dr Judith Smith said: “Radical change will depend on support, incentives, and GPs feeling that they have permission to test out new approaches to the delivery and organisation of care. 

“Policy-makers and commissioners will need to put in place imaginative measures that make the most of the strong history of independence and innovation within general practice.”

More than 20 different models of primary care organisation were coverd by the review. The researchers looked into how likely they were to offer and extended range of services, including rapid and local access to specialist advice. 

A full copy of the report is available on the Nuffield Trust website.