What are Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)?
Under the 2012 Healt hand Social Care Act, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will be the most powerful bodies in the new health system and will be spending around £60bn of the NHS budget. They will be taking over many of the roles of the Primary Care Trusts (which are being abolished). CCGs are groups of General Practitioners (GPs) that will, from April 2013, be responsible for arranging access to some local health services in England. They will do this by commissioning or buying health and care services which include:
- Non specialist acute services
- Community services
- Mental health & learning disability
- Ambulance
- Continuing healthcare
- Enhanced services
- Hospice
Can you get involved?
The official document on setting up CCGs says the following….
As statutory NHS bodies, CCGs will wish to promote transparency at all times by:
• ensuring early engagement on proposed commissioning plans with patients and the public, Health and Wellbeing Boards, current and potential providers and clinical networks;
• setting out clearly in the CCG’s constitution the way in which decisions will be made;
• holding governing body meetings in public (except where this would not be in the public interest), holding a public meeting to present the annual report and considering whether they wish to hold any other meetings in public;
• publishing details of contracts held;
• publishing information about remuneration for senior staff;
• having a Register of Interests; and
• having systems to declare interests.
These and other forms of transparency will help build and maintain confidence with patients and local communities. They will also show that CCGs are conducting business in an appropriate and legally sound manner. Patients will be able to see what services are being commissioned to meet their needs, how the quality of those services is being continuously improved, and how public money is being spent on their behalf.
Having clear, open and transparent communications will also be key in achieving good relationships and ensuring clarity about the CCG’s aims, objectives and outcomes. CCGs will want to consider developing a written communication strategy covering practice members,
Extract from the NHS Commissioning Board’s guidance
full document here...Guidance for establishing GCCs
Actions
You may wish to consider working out which CCG your own practice belongs to (see below) and then:
contact your local CCG (links below) about their meetings
attend these meetings
asking in advance to be able to ask a question at one of the meetings (you may be asked to put it in writing beforehand so allow plant of time)
asking to see the Register of Interests (these should be on the web site)
objecting if the CCG plans to privatise a service
if you join your own GP’s patient participation group you may be able to become part of the CCG’s involvement group –
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Find your local Clinical Commissioning Group below – each heading will take you to their own web site
Leicester City
The Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (LCCCG) represents the 65 GP practices from across the city. The Governing Body usually meets bi-monthly, usually on the second Tuesday of each month at St John’s House, 30, East St. Leicester LE1 6NE
Next Meeting
Tuesday 11th September 2018 at 1pm
Declarations of interest by City CCG Board Members Here
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Leicester City Primary Care Commissioning Committee
The Leicester City Primary Care Commissioning Committee meets on a monthly basis (usually the first Tuesday of the month). The meeting is held in public and members of the public are welcome to come and observe the meeting. Any questions or queries relating to the meeting or papers can be directed to Claudia Thompson, Board Support Officer on 0116 295 1121
Next Meeting
Tuesday 4th September 2018 at 10.00 am
in the Conference Room,
8th Floor, St John’s House, 30 East Street, Leicester, LE1 6NB.
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West Leicestershire
The West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (WLCCG) represents the 50 GP practices in North Charnwood, South Charnwood, North West Leicestershire, and Hinckley & Bosworth
WLCCG Declarations of interest
Next Meeting
Tuesday 14th August 2018 at 1.30pm
West Leicestershire CCG, 55, Woodgate, Loughborough, LE11 2TZ
Members of the public are requested to submit their questions in relation to the agenda in advance to Michele.Morton@westleicestershireccg.nhs.uk by 12 noon on the Monday before the meeting.
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East Leicestershire and Rutland
East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group (ELRCCG) represents 34 practices in Melton, Rutland, Market Harborough, Blaby District, Lutterworth, and Oadby & Wigston and meets every two months
Next Meeting
Tuesday 14th August 2018
9.30 am
Council Chambers County Hall, Glenfield
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