Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group (SDCCG) has applied to the NHS for greater powers to commission primary care - a move which, if successful, "will allow us to provide more support to our GPs", according to its chief operating officer.

Last November, CCGs around the country were given the option of having a greater say over the primary care commissioned in their areas, in line with NHS chief executive Simon Stevens’ strategy of giving GPs more power to address health needs in their areas.

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CCGs were set up by the 2012 Health and Social Care Act as GP organisations responsible for buying the majority of an area’s secondary care such as hospital services.

They replaced primary care trusts, which were dissolved in April 2013, and are overseen by NHS England. The latter has retained control over primary care commissioning, which covers GP surgeries.

Three potential options were offered to CCGs: having a greater interesting in primary care decision-making, joint commissioning powers and delegated commissioning powers.

SDCCG’s 33 GP practices were given the chance to vote on all three options, with a preference indicated for joint commissioning.

Another vote, held at the end of last month, saw 76 per cent of the 33 GP practices in total voted for joint commissioning.

Each GP practice is given one vote.  31 practices voted in the vote on joint commissioning.  Out of these, 25 voted in favour. 

SDCCG has now made an application to NHS England’s area team for the new powers.

Karen Parsons, chief operating officer of SDCCG, said: "We’re delighted that both the Local Medical Committee and our GP membership practices support us in our bid for the joint co-commissioning of primary care.

"If successful in our application, we will be able to work jointly with our NHS England area team to make local decisions on how to develop primary care services, aligned to our local health priorities.

"It will also allow us to provide more support to our GPs."

A spokesman said SDCCG does not know when it can expect to hear back from NHS England as to whether the application for joint commissioning has been successful.