Abstract
Highlights in Update 90
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 has been in full force since April 2013, this has allowed the authours to update Chapter 9 - Healthcare Commissioning, which in itself was a totally new chapter written in 2012.
GP practices have been affected in profound ways, from engaging with Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) on commissioning of health services to the increased complexity of working out payment streams between CCGs, NHS England and Local Authorities. We have updated the chapter to reflect the pragmatic changes the Act has created. After receiving feedback, we have added more context and background on the theory and development of commissioning and its evolution to the Act.
As always GPs and Practice Managers are at the nexus of health care issues whether it be key implementers of the recent health reforms or more recent initiatives and plans that see General Practice as the key to reducing pressures on Accident & Emergency services. Our practices are rising to the challenge but recent reports showing a real terms reduction in funding to primary care compared to the hospital sector and increasing workload and moral issues in the primary care workforce, highlight we are at a critical point in General Practice development. Hence it is important that we encourage all members of the primary care team to feedback through their representative organisations on the current challenges General Practice is facing.
Wishing all our readers the best.
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