Delivering GP Commissioning

The Health and Social Care Bill proposes very significant changes to the way the NHS is governed and to the role of General Practice.

• All GP practices must be members of a GP consortium and if a practice fails to join one they will be allocated to one by the NHS Board
• GP Consortia will lead the commissioning of all NHS services with the exception of those commissioned by the new NHS Board
• The current GP contracts will be replaced by a new national contract with the NHS Board. This means that whilst all other providers will contract with the GP consortia, GPs will not.
• GP Consortia will be incentivised to meet agreed performance objectives
• GP practices can expect significantly increased peer pressure and performance monitoring from GP Consortia, who will support the NHS Board in managing GP contracts.

Whilst only a minority of GPs will be expected to participate actively in commissioning, the changes will affect everyone and practices are well advised to start preparing for the changes now.

DR Solicitors is currently advising both practices and consortia on preparing for the new structure. Work which we have undertaken in this regard includes:

• Drafting GP Consortia constitutions
• Documenting interim governance arrangements for shadow consortia
• Advising on staff transfers from PBC groups and PCTs
• Managing Conflicts of Interest between providing and commissioning services
• Negotiating and novating contracts with providers and the NHS Board.
• Updating practice partnership agreements to reflect the new obligations and governance requirements

Please contact Nils Christiansen