Green light for GPs taking over healthcare (From Sutton Guardian)

Green light for GPs taking over Sutton's healthcare

12:00pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter

Dr Brendan Hudson

The group of GPs set to take over Sutton’s healthcare have been given the go-ahead by the NHS.

Sutton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been given authorisation from the NHS Commissioning Board which confirms it is ready to take on the role of assigning local health services from April 1.

Sutton CCG is made up of 28 Sutton GP practices which will have responsibility for commissioning hospital, community and mental health services for Sutton.

They will oversee a budget of around £209m.

Authorisation is a rigorous process which uses assessment tests to make sure the CCGs are ready to take on their role.

Dr Brendan Hudson, the clinical chair of Sutton CCG said: “I am delighted at this success as it recognises a huge amount of work across the CCG but also offers local people a positive change to the way health services are planned and funded in the future.

“Sutton CCG will focus on patients and their health needs, and we are committed to developing new ways of listening to our patients and using their feedback to inform our commissioning decisions.”

The NHS Commissioning Board’s role is to ensure that the NHS delivers better outcomes for patients within its available resources.