The 35 emerging clinical commissioning groups which will be the first to go through the authorisation process have been announced by the NHS Commissioning Board.

Applications for authorisation will take place in four waves from July 2012 to January 2013. The first wave are expected to hear whether they have been successful - and what “conditions” will be placed on them by the board - in October.

Fewer than a sixth of the expected 220 total CCGs will be tested in the first wave, although there are only four waves. Sources indicate the tight timescale for submitting information has dissuaded many from applying in the first wave.

One CCG leader told HSJ that arranging for a large number of individuals to complete a “360 degree stakeholder survey” about them was a particular challenge. CCGs have been told to ask a list of dozens of individuals - for example councillors, council officers, and member GPs - to complete the survey about the CCG.

CCGs in the first wave

  • Bassetlaw
  • Blackpool
  • Bedfordshire
  • Calderdale
  • Cumbria
  • Dudley
  • East & North Herts
  • East Leicestershire & Rutland
  • East Riding
  • Gloucestershire
  • Great Yarmouth & Waveney
  • Islington
  • Kernow (Cornwall)
  • Kingston
  • Leicester City
  • Liverpool
  • Newbury & District
  • North & West Reading
  • North East Lincolnshire
  • North Staffordshire
  • Oldham
  • Oxfordshire
  • Portsmouth
  • Rotherham
  • Sandwell & West Birmingham
  • Shropshire
  • Somerset
  • South Reading
  • Stoke on Trent
  • Wakefield
  • Wandsworth
  • Warrington
  • West Cheshire
  • West Leicestershire
  • Wokingham

Commissioning board national director of commissioning development Dame Barbara Hakin said in a statement: “All the emerging clinical commissioning groups have made fantastic progress to prepare themselves for authorisation. Today we are confirming those who have chosen to be assessed in wave 1.” A statement said confirmation of which CCGs will be assessed in the other waves would follow.

Dame Barbara said: “We will continue to work with all emerging CCGs over the coming months to guide and support them on their journey to establishment to ensure they are in a strong position to take on their full responsibilities.”

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