GPs go-ahead

The authorisation will see them taking control of how local healthcare budgets are spent from 1st April 2013.

NHS Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group (NHS BCCG) is one of the first in the country to be authorised to become the statutory body responsible for a budget of around £140 million.

Authorisation was granted after a five month assessment where NHS Commissioning Board experts reviewed the CCGs policies. They also carried out a site visit, spoke to leaders and looked at work with stakeholders and patients.

“This is fantastic news and is testament to the hard work and dedication of all the CCG team,” said Dr Steve Kell, the group’s chair and a Worksop GP himself.

“These are exciting times for Bassetlaw people with frontline clinicians taking on a strong leadership role and I am delighted with our progress and focus on quality so far.”

Dr Kell said the authorisation gave them the chance to work closely with patients, improve the quality of healthcare and help patients live healthier for longer.

All of Bassetlaw’s 12 GP practices are members of the CCG. They will help shape health services by working closely with patients and the public.

From April 2013 Bassetlaw GPs, as part of NHS BCCG, will be making sure Bassetlaw people can access safe and high quality healthcare, including hospital and community services.

They will make key decisions, supported by NHS managers, as they become responsible for commissioning health services as a statutory NHS body.

They will not be responsible for their own contracts or other primary care services like dentists, pharmacists and optometrists - this is done by the new national NHS Commissioning Board.