Clinical Commissioning Groups in Milton Keynes, Beds and Luton could merge into one

    There are proposals for there to be just one Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) across the three areas by April next year.

    CCG's are independent clinically-led NHS bodies that are responsible for the planning and commissioning of health care services for the local area. They are responsible for approximately 2/3 of the total NHS England budget. As of April 2019, there are 191 CCG's in England, however, this is set to reduce if the three CCG's in Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and Luton merge into one. 

    Discussions are currently underway to merge these three groups to create one Integrated Care System. The 'NHS Long Term Plan' has also stated this could lead to multiple merges across the country. 

    Next year, the BLMK CCG could be formed. This CCG will have one team and one governing body across Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and Luton. 

    Patricia Davies, accountable officer for the BLMK Commissioning Collaborative, said: "For the last eighteen months, we have been working more effectively across the area to commission services for our population, and we have started to see some benefits.

    “By applying for funding as a bigger population, we have been able to roll out consistent policies across the area – not least in perinatal mental health, where we have been able to launch a new service in Bedfordshire and Luton and expand the existing service in Milton Keynes.

    “Becoming one single CCG will make us a more influential commissioner and give us more negotiating power, which will allow us to improve the quality of care for our patients.

    “It also means that instead of doing something three times, we’ll do it once – cutting management costs, which can be invested into the workforce and front line services.”

    The proposal will be submitted to NHS England in September 2020. Local people are invited to share their views with the CCG's.

     

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