NHS Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group have received approval to jointly commission local GP services with NHS England.

The announcement means that from April, patients and clinicians will have more involvement in deciding how local GP services are developed including those provided out of hospital.

GP services are currently planned and arranged by NHS England. In January this year, all CCGs were given the opportunity to opt for one of three options for differing levels of ‘co-commissioning’, ‘delegated commissioning’, ‘joint commissioning’ or great involvement’. NHS Wyre Forest CCG applied for and have been granted join commissioning’ so will work closely with NHS England to jointly agree the budget and contracts with local GP Practices. Neighbouring CCG, NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove, also applied for, and have been granted, joint commissioning by NHS England.

A committee will be set up with representatives from both CCGs, NHS England, the local authority and Healthwatch, to jointly plan and arrange GP services for the people of Wyre Forest and Redditch and Bromsgrove. The committee will also play an important role in managing any potential conflicts of interest under the new joint arrangements.

Dr Simon Rumley, local GP and chair of the CCG, said: “We’re delighted to receive a mandate to jointly commission GP services with NHS England.

“This is an important step in ensuring that we can deliver more joined up, high quality care services to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Wyre Forest.”

Andrew Reed, director of commissioning operations (West Midlands), at NHS England, said: “I am delighted that Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group, along with five other CCGs across the West Midlands have been successful in their bids to take on responsibility for commissioning the majority of GP services from April this year.

“This is a welcome step towards investment in primary and community services that will see the development of continuing improvements to commission local high quality care for our patients now and for the future.”

All clinical commissioning groups were invited to submit an ‘expression of interest’ to having a greater role in the commissioning of GP services back in January. In total, 87 CCGs across the country have been approved for joint commissioning.