Bury Clinical Commissioning Group
Dr. Kiran Patel, Chairman and Clinical Lead of the Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) (photograph courtesy of the Bury Times, as featured in the NHS Bury 2010/11 Annual Report).
As part of national plans to reform the NHS, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) will be replaced by new organisations known as Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) from 1st April 2013.
These plans are set out in the Health and Social Care Act. The Act paves the way for GPs and other local clinicians to have a greater influence on how the NHS budget is spent. There will also be a new NHS Commissioning Board to oversee the process.
In Bury there will be one CCG known as the Bury Clinical Commissioning Group, representing all 33 GP practices in the town.
What these changes mean for you
Your GP will join the Bury CCG which will be responsible for planning and paying for services within the area. This will include planned hospital care such as operations, rehabilitation services, urgent and emergency care and most community services.
GPs and other clinicians will also be responsible for engaging with local people to ensure that the services they are paying for meet your needs. Bury CCG is enlisting a ‘Patients’ Champion’ to represent the views of local patients and the public.
A new consumer body called HealthWatch England will be set up which will support local HealthWatch bodies - these will replace the current Local Involvement Networks. The local HealthWatch will be responsible for promoting public engagement in health services, commenting on changes to local services, act as advocates for complaints, deliver advice services across health and social care and have the power to view and enter health care services.
Monitor's role is being expanded to become the licensing body for all providers in terms of ensuring their finance and governance standards are of sufficiently high standard.
The Care Quality Commission will determine clinically whether an organisation's licence is granted.
Click here to find out more about the Bury Clinical Commissioning Group and progress to date.