A group of GPs have officially taken over Sutton’s healthcare.

Sutton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will now be planning and buying many of Sutton’s NHS services.

Sutton CCG’s clinical chairman, Dr Brendan Hudson and chief operating officer, Jonathan Bates, launched the new organisation on Wednesday, March 27.

Dr Hudson said: "This is an exciting time for us as local GPs.

"As we take on responsibility for the local NHS, we need our partners and local people to understand who we are, our role and how we plan to deliver high quality health services.

"As well as launching Sutton CCG, we were able to take the opportunity last week to listen to people’s views of our plans and priorities for the coming year.

"Getting our priorities right will make sure that we deliver the services that people need and it is so important that local people are able to contribute to this."

It completes the coalition Government's sweeping reforms of the National Health Service as part of the Health and Social Care Act.

Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington said: "Sutton CCG represents an important change to how our local NHS services are planned and funded.

"The doctors and nurses leading the organisation are best-placed to know the needs of their local patients and make sure that the local services meet these needs.”

Jan McCullock from the Sutton Local Involvement Network (LINk) and pathfinder Healthwatch said: "Sutton CCG represents a new face for the NHS in Sutton that is more patient and Sutton focused.

"I look forward to working with them to make sure that local NHS services meet local need, are high quality and give patients a positive experience."