Agenda item

The Committee will receive a verbal update from Dr Marilyn Plant regarding the possible implications of the expected Government White Paper, the prospective changes to healthcare commissioning and the implications for joint working in the Borough.

The Committee received a verbal update from Dr Marilyn Plant on the possible implications of the Government White paper and the prospective changes to healthcare commissioning.  Dr Plant described her role within the PCT and reported that she was also a voting member on the joint body of PCTs.  In addition she was a member of the London Clinical Senate.  She had also been a GP in Barnes for 20 years and before that a GP in Hammersmith.

She explained to the Committee that she had not provided papers in advance of the meeting as the situation had been changing daily and therefore she would provide a verbal update of the situation as of now.

In particular she referred to the following:

·         PCT’s would remain a statutory body until April 2013 when they would be dissolved.  This would be formally resolved once the primary legislation had been passed but was expected to be the case, it was likely that this legislation would be taken through the next parliamentary session.

·         As a result of this expected legislation would be that GP’s would be responsible for commissioning of services as opposed to the PCT’s; this she explained would be a similar exercise to the fundholder GP initiative some years ago but without the voluntary element.  This time also, not only would planned care be commissioned by GP’s but also acute care.

These things were expected but there were she reported things that were less clear

• There was no clear guidance on which of the many functions of the PCT would be transferred to GP’s, it would not be possible to transfer the functions wholesale.
  
  
• Those functions not taken on by GP’s would go elsewhere, some may transfer to local authorities.
  
  

The committee heard that two practice based commissioning groups had been established and were meeting regularly in order to develop and craft services for the future. 

The size of GP Commissioning consortia was not designated in the original advice but a letter recently received from D Nicholson recommended that would serve a population of 500,000.  Under this size it was not expected that a practice could achieve a financial balance.  Dr Plant reminded the committee that all of this ongoing work was pre-emptive in order to complete a smooth change over in 2013.

In response to comments made and questions raised the committee heard the following:

(i)      That it was not clear as yet whether the Mayor / GLA would have a overarching role after 2013

(ii)    That the move to GP commissioning should certainly increase GP awareness of financial costs

(iii)   That the PCT was putting in place the necessary tools to ensure a safe and effective transition to GP Commissioning

(iv)  That joint working continued successfully between the PCT and the Local Authority.

(v)    That it was hoped that by April next year a ‘shadow’ format for the changeover would have been produced.

It was RESOLVED:

1.                    that the current position be noted

2.                    that Dr Marilyn Plant return to update the committee in 12 months, be agreed

3.                    that briefing notes to the committee on any developments before that time, be received.