Verum writes: Where are the boons CCGs promised they would deliver?

I was recently surprised to hear some good news relating to the NHS. Not that we had found enough money to run it, but at long last the government is reported to be seriously looking at the fundamental structure of the NHS, in particular Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

Those of you with long memories will remember CCGs were created following an Act of Parliament in 2012, and from April 1, 2013, CCGs replaced Primary Care Trusts. (With hindsight has it all been a big April Fool’s joke?)

The idea at the time was that CCGs would be able to get the best possible outcomes for a local population as a clinically led commissioning service would know the needs of the local population and be able to decide what were the priorities for activity. They would then buy services for their population from local providers such as hospitals, community clinics and primary care, including optical practices. CCGs would be fleet of foot and be able to change as the needs of their population changed and so over time outcomes for the population would improve.