Second CCG condemns health bill and 'bureaucratic' authorisation process

It follows similar calls this week from neighbouring Tower Hamlets CCG.

City and Hackney co-chairs Dr Clare Highton and Dr Haren Patel, wrote to David Cameron today, saying the bill would “hinder” their work in improving care for patients, blaming this on the “bureaucratic” authorisation process.

Dr Patel said: “We have been involved as GPs in commissioning for the last five years and have brought about many improvements for our patients. We have done this through working together as GPs and in partnership with the local authority and others.

“We have used the power and enthusiasm of clinicians working together to improve care for older people, introduced a multi-disciplinary team to support people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, developed a primary care psychotherapy team, and introduced a practice based specialist diabetes team.

“This diabetes work led the Audit Commission to award us ‘most improved’ status for diabetes care. The bill will not help us continue with these improvements; it will hinder us.”

Dr Highton said: “We have to go through huge disruption and a very bureaucratic process to become a full authorised clinical commissioning group under the proposed system. This is already taking us away from working on clinical improvements with our local hospital, mental health and other services.”

She also condemned the prime minister for claiming that their involvement in clinical commissioning was evidence they supported the bill.

Dr Highton said: “Like most NHS staff we are afraid the NHS will be damaged beyond recognition in a few years if the bill is passed.”