Pathfinders identified to lead NHS reforms

The first groups of GPs in the NHS South Central region to take the lead in the Government’s plans for commissioning health services were announced today by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley. 

Six groups of GP practices in South Central SHA (SCSHA) region, covering 47% of the regions population, are among the 52 from across England that have been selected to be the first to take on commissioning responsibilities as part of the Government’s plans set out in the NHS White Paper Liberating the NHS: Equity and Excellence. The groups selected, known as pathfinders, will work together to manage their local budgets and commission services for patients direct with other NHS colleagues and local authorities.

The pathfinders will now begin testing the new commissioning arrangements to ensure they are working well before arrangements that are more formal come into place. By being in charge of the decisions that affect their patients, the pathfinders will be able to commission high quality care that is tailored to the specific needs of their patients and the wider community.

The GP pathfinders announced today provide healthcare to 12.8 million people across England. This means around a quarter of the population can start to benefit from their doctors’ proven clinical leadership, good partnership working with local authorities, and innovative ways of engaging with patients and the local community. This is just the start – more GP consortia have come forward to join the Pathfinder programme which will enable as many consortia as possible to test out the new arrangements at an early stage before GP consortia take on statutory responsibilities from April 2013.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:

“We want to create an NHS that puts patients at the heart of everything it does and is focused on achieving health outcomes that are amongst the best in the world.

“Already leading the way and making this happen are the GPs selected to be pathfinders. I am delighted by the response and the evident enthusiasm for taking these ideas forward. They have demonstrated an enthusiasm and excitement for change and shown that there are many GPs ready and willing to take on commissioning responsibilities, so they can make the decisions that better meet the needs of their local communities and improve outcomes for their patients. This first wave of pathfinders are just the start, many more GPs have already come forward to be included in the rolling programme of approved pathfinders and more will be announced in the coming weeks and months.

“When we made a historic commitment to protect health spending, we committed to getting the best value from the health budget and make every penny count for patients. This means cutting bureaucracy and simplifying the NHS structure so that we are able to reinvest savings into what matters most – frontline services.”

Local GP Johnny Marshall from United Commissioning in Buckinghamshire commented on being accepted as a GP Pathfinder:

“GP Commissioning gives us an unparalleled opportunity to transform the local NHS so that health services are planned and managed according to the needs of our local population.

“As a GP Pathfinder we will be working closely with all interested parties to come up with the best local solutions. GPs see thousands of patients every year and understand their views and concerns, and I believe we are well placed to commission health services on their behalf.”

GP pathfinders will be supported by the National Clinical Commissioning Network, the National Leadership Council and national primary care bodies.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. The NHS White Paper Liberating the NHS: Equity and Excellence was published on 12 July 2010 and the associated consultations can be found at:  http://www.southcentral.nhs.uk/your-views/
2. The six groups of GP Pathfinders in the South Central SHA are: Buckinghamshire, South Reading, Bracknell Forest, South East Hampshire, Basingstoke and Oxfordshire.
3. The number of GP practices and people per strategic health authority covered by the new GP consortia is as follows:

• East of England – 120 practices, 1,022,400 people
• East Midlands – 86 practices, 791,000 people
• London – 338 practices, 1,937,648 people
• North East – 124 practices, 933,121 people
• North West – 432 practices, 2,471,730 people
• South Central – 245 practices, 2,014,316 people
• South East Coast – 165 practices, 1,406,000 people
• South West – 169 practices, 1,212,000 people
• West Midlands – 109 practices, 671,000 people 
• Yorkshire and the Humber – 72 practices, 478,500 people

4.  A full list of GP Pathfinders included in the first wave of the Pathfinder Programme can be found at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/pathfinderlearningnetwork

5. For further information, please contact Graham Groves on 01635 275657

6.The NHS South Central Region covers the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes