CCGs ‘should commission locally-sensitive primary care contracts’

Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) should commission primary care services, an independent think tank has claimed.

A report by Reform has warned the primary care workforce requires “urgent reform”.

It has called for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to commission local primary care service through locally determined contracts.

It claims CCGs must have the ability to performance manage their member general practices and bring in new private sector primary care providers.

Dr Michael Dixon, a GP in Devon and chair of the NHS Alliance, said asking CCGs to have the final say over commissioning primary care is a “bad idea”.

“The first role of the CCG is getting its member practices on board and GPs generally do not like the phrase ‘performance managing’. We need to create a non-blame, non-aggressive culture and this will not help.

“In asking CCGs to performance manage GPs and commission primary care services, it will put them in a difficult position in making them the boss rather than inspiring practices to become involved in the commissioning landscape.”

The think tank has also urged the government to “relax” immigration rules for doctors. It claimed all healthcare providers should have the freedom to decide how they will recruit and reward employees.