Commissioning groups that cross boundaries may have to reform

The government this week confirmed the boundaries of consortia – renamed clinical commissioning groups – should “not normally” cross those of councils.

Groups crossing boundaries will have to give a “clear rationale in terms of benefits for patients” and provide an account of how they expect to “achieve better integration” with social care.

HSJ’s analysis of 328 emerging consortia found that before the announcement 11 groups had decided to form across unitary or upper tier local authority boundaries.

United League Commissioning is made up of practices located within the boundaries of both Wigan and St Helen’s councils. Head of operations Judith White said patients in both local authorities used services on the other side of the boundary.

She said: “We have worked hard over the last few years [under practice-based commissioning] to achieve an excellent level of clinical engagement and an impetus to deliver change, and it would be tragic to lose these factors.”

Less than a third of the proposed commissioning groups are coterminous with council boundaries. The most common formation is several groups within a council’s boundaries.