Blog | The King's Fund

Commissioning is dead, long live commissioning

With collaboration and integrated care central to the long-term plan for the NHS, Ruth Robertson considers what the future holds for commissioning and commissioners.

The future of NHS commissioning: no map or clear destination

Ruth Robertson asks how CCGs will be affected as accountable care organisations/systems and sustainability and transformation plans/partnerships are layered on top of an already complex NHS landscape?

Put GPs at the centre of the NHS commissioning roadmap

Ruth Robertson outlines the importance of involving GPs in commissioning and planning in the NHS if we are to meet the challenges of transforming care and balancing finances.

Co-commissioning one year on: any progress?

How are new co-commissioning arrangements progressing, a year after their introduction? Chris Naylor considers the results of our survey of GP practices in six clinical commissioning groups, carried out with the Nuffield Trust.

Should we be worried about CCG conflicts of interest?

Are conflicts of interest affecting the services patients receive? Or is this inherent feature of clinical commissioning being managed appropriately through common-sense decision-making?

Can CCGs become accountable care organisations?

‘We need clinical commissioning groups to become accountable care organisations’ – that’s what Jeremy Hunt said recently in parliament. But what does this really mean and will it work in practice? Rachael Addicott gives her analysis.

Take care CCGs: it was the conflict of interest that tripped them up last time

In the past couple of weeks, ‘co-commissioning’ has emerged as the latest solution to the problems in primary care. But will it give patients, communities and clinicians ‘more clout’ in deciding how local services are developed, at a time when NHS finances are severely strained?

How engaged are CCG members one year on?

One year ago today, clinical commissioning groups formally took on their statutory responsibility for £65 billion of the NHS budget. So how do individuals in CCGs feel about engagement now?

New CCG allocations: straw men laid to rest but deeper questions remain?

NHS England have set out their thinking on how the bulk of NHS money will get to where it needs to be, and on what basis, through allocations to CCGs – David Buck shares his thoughts on this decision.

Why we cannot afford to be pessimistic about CCGs

The future of clinical commissioning groups hinges to a large extent on the support they receive from local GPs, says Chris Naylor.

Developing GP federations: will clinical commissioning stand in the way?

Central to the RCGP's new vision, The 2022 GP, is the proposal that GP practices come together as federated or networked organisations. But can GP federations develop alongside CCGs?

Clinical commissioning groups: a north-south divide?

The hard work and long hours put in by GPs and managers in setting up CCGs have, so far, paid off. All 211 CCGs have been authorised to take control of their commissioning budgets from the beginning of April.

A guide to the NHS Commissioning Board’s Everyone Counts

The NHS Commissioning Board has issued its ‘planning guidance’ to the 211 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that are to take control of local budgets from April. So what message does it send to CCGs?

Transforming primary care: let's start with the basics

In a blog for our Time to Think Differently programme, Hugh Reeve, a GP and Clinical Chair of Cumbria CCG, explains why changes to primary care must start with the basics.

Clinical commissioning groups: what do we know so far?

In the past few days, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have come several steps closer to taking control of £65 billion of NHS spending.

Balancing liberation with accountability?

Anna Dixon looks at the difficulties in setting objectives for the NHS and at how the NHS Commissioning Board can be effectively held accountable for £80 billion of public money.

How do the Commissioning Outcomes Framework indicators measure up?

From 2013 we will hear a lot more about the Commissioning Outcomes Framework, which will be used to assess the performance of clinical commissioning groups.

CCGs and PCTs - not so different after all?

There will be important differences between CCGs and PCTs. But in terms of the population size they cover, are they looking increasingly similar?

What every CCG leader should know about mental health

Chris Naylor asks what role CCGs can play to stop people with mental health losing out in the NHS.

Commissioning support units: is externalisation the right way to go?

Chris Naylor looks at what the future shape of support arrangements for clinical commissioning groups will look like.

Publications: Independent research and analysis on health and social care

Reports, long reads and articles.