Bexley Clinical Commissioning Group has banned a member GP from standing to become a governing body representative.

GP partner Bob Gill was told he could not stand to be a representative for the Clocktower locality on the CCG governing body in October. HSJ understands the reason given was he failed a screening due to a lack of commissioning experience.

The group was one of the first “pathfinder” pilots for the reforms and is chaired by former Labour MP Howard Stoate.

HSJ has seen emails from other GPs, including Bexley local medical committee members, sent to colleagues, questioning the barring.

One CCG member GP, who did not want to be named, said he believed the decision was taken so the governing body could be “stuffed with yes men”.

HSJ understands the group has faced significant internal disagreement and delay in agreeing its constitution. It has not been formally signed off after several months of discussion and 10 iterations.

Two GP members said they had felt pressured into signing the constitution by CCG leaders.

A spokeswoman for the CCG said a vote was being held on adopting the constitution. She said not all members had so far voted in favour, but so far no votes had been received against. She said the CCG held quarterly engagement meetings with member GPs, and they had “had the opportunity to participate in the development” of the constitution “since June 2011”.

In relation to the exclusion of the locality member, a spokeswoman for the CCG said the approval process was agreed by the “GP membership”.

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