MEDIA RELEASE 23 January 2013 North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group receives green light North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is pleased to announce it has achieved authorisation in Wave 2 of the national process. This authorisation is the rubber stamp that allows local clinicians to take control of the NHS budget in North Lincolnshire from April 2013. North Lincolnshire CCG is one of 67 CCG’s nationally to achieve authorisation in Wave 2 and one of only 19 to do so with no conditions attached. From 1st April 2013 the CCG will replace NHS North Lincolnshire as the organisation that, working with local residents, will decide which health services should be commissioned and provided for their local populations. Allison Cooke, Chief Officer of the North Lincolnshire CCG explained, “This is fantastic news for both the CCG and the population of North Lincolnshire. By achieving authorisation with no conditions it provides reassurance to the residents of the area that their local health care is in safe hands going into the future. “Now we have achieved this significant milestone the CCG can really focus on working with local people to develop first class health care for North Lincolnshire.” The introduction of CCGs is part of the national NHS reforms that aim to put local GPs and other clinicians at the heart of developing local services that meet the needs of the local population. The CCG is made up of representatives from all 21 GP practices in North Lincolnshire and allows local health professionals the freedom to develop services in a way that best meets the needs and wishes of local people. Dr Margaret Sanderson, Chair of the CCG added, “I would like to thank everyone who has helped the CCG achieve authorisation. Throughout the process of setting up the CCG we have engaged with our local community and as such we have developed an organisation that we feel best meets the needs of our area. It really is great news for the whole of North Lincolnshire. “We now need to continue to work hard to make sure the CCG reaches its potential in providing the area’s residents with the highest quality health services.” More information about North Lincolnshire CCG can be found at: www.northlincolnshireccg.nhs.uk or why not follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/northlincsccg For further information contact the Communications Team for North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group on 0300 303 8394. Notes to Editors: • There are 211 proposed CCGs and authorisation is being split into four waves with 34 CCGs in wave 1; 67 in wave 2; 63 in wave 3; and 47 in wave 4. Wave 1 CCGs were authorised in December 2012; the remaining outcome decisions will be made in February and March. • Further information about the authorisation process can be found at http://www.commissioningboard.nhs.uk/2013/01/23/wave2-auth/ • Clinical commissioning allows local health professionals the freedom to respond, innovate and develop services in the way that best meets the needs and wishes of local people. Through this the NHS will be better able to deliver improvements in health outcomes and quality for patients and communities. • The NHS Commissioning Board, which is responsible for the authorisation of CCGs, and leading the introduction of clinically-led commissioning in the NHS, will also be fully established in April.