South Reading Patient Voice

From 1 April 2016 South Reading CCG will take on delegated responsibility for commissioning GP services, which are currently co-commissioned with NHS England.

It is believed that this will offer the local CCG more flexibility in arranging GP services. We in South Reading could benefit particularly from an active management of GP services as there is a risk, as pointed out in the Primary Care Strategy, that our smaller practices will not have the capacity or even the premises to offer the range of services needed to keep people safe in their homes and out of hospital whenever appropriate.

Of course, there is an evident danger of conflict of interest as GPs commission GP services, but with transparency, clear specification and assessment of services, local goodwill and a commitment to patient and public engagement it should be possible to put this to one side.