GP commissioning and NHS board spelled out in Queen's Speech

A statement from Number 10 accompanying the Queen’s Speech says an NHS independent board will be established by a forthcoming health bill, giving it duties to “allocate resources and provide commissioning guidance”.

The statement says GPs will be allowed to “commission services on behalf of their patients” but there is no greater detail given.

Also confirmed as part of the health bill is a “strengthened” role for the Care Quality Commission and Monitor’s development into an economic regulator.

The statutory commitment to “take forward proposals to significantly cut the number of health quangos” will allow statutory bodies like strategic health authorities to be wound down, HSJ has been told.