A multi-million pound cash injection has been promised to commissioning GPs to boost out of hours and urgent care services in their area.
This marks the first time funds have been officially delegated from PCTs to CCGs.
The £100m additional funding from the DH – or £2 per head – is said to have been made possible due to the “good management” of the department’s central budgets.
Commissioners are being urged to use the funds to provide more effective cover for urgent care services; improve out of hours care; and extend practice opening times.
The DH has warned the money must not be spent on CCG running costs.
“The extra funds are a welcome boost during a demanding part of the year,” said Dr Shane Gordon, CEO of North East Essex CCG.
“This is the first time that the Department has specifically identified funding for PCTs to delegate to prospective CCGs for patient care, although individual PCTs have been delegating elements of their commissioning funds to emerging CCGs and Pathfinders during 2011/12 as part of their development.”
