NHS to get 拢100m cash injection to improve services
Patients across the country will benefit as the NHS receives a cash injection of up to 拢100 million to boost services in their communities
Patients across the country will benefit as the NHS receives a cash injection of up to 拢100 million to boost services in their communities, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced today.
The Department of Health is providing up to 拢100 million in additional funding to doctors in emerging Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to improve local services and reduce pressures on the NHS during the colder months.
Clinicians in these groups will spend the money directly on local care services that best meet their patients鈥� clinical needs and prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital. For example, prospective Clinical Commissioning Groups could use the funding to:
鈥⒙犅� 聽provide more effective cover for urgent care services
鈥⒙犅� 聽improve out of hours services for patients
鈥⒙犅� 聽improve local arrangements with nursing homes
鈥⒙犅� 聽extend GP practice opening times, or
鈥⒙犅� 聽commission any service which supports patients in the community and in their homes to help avoid unnecessary visits to hospital.
This is the first time these prospective clinical groups have been given money to spend on patient services. They will have 拢2 per head of population made available to them via their Primary Care Trust (PCT) cluster to spend this financial year.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
鈥淚 am pleased to be able to give the NHS up to 拢100 million in extra funding to spend directly on local frontline care for their patients during the winter months.鈥�
鈥淭his is the first time emerging Clinical Commissioning Groups - made up of GPs and other local clinical professionals - have been given money to spend on services for patients. This additional funding, available due to good management of the Department鈥檚 central budgets, will harness the expertise of local clinicians who know better than anyone, what their patients need.鈥�
鈥淢oving decision-making closer to patients will mean 鈥榥o decision about me without me鈥� and ensures that patients receive the right care according to their individual needs. This more effective and efficient way of working will see savings reinvested in front line NHS care.鈥�
Many prospective Clinical Commissioning Groups are ready to take responsibility for investments of this kind and will be supported by their local Primary Care Trust cluster, who will sign off their plans. The funding must be used to improve patient services - it cannot be spent on running costs.
The funding will enable prospective CCGs to implement measures which support their longer term plans to improve services for patients.
CEO of North East Essex CCG, Dr. Shane Gordon said:
鈥淭his funding will ensure that the quality and speed of health services in our area is maintained during the winter.聽 As a local GP, I work with patients and colleagues in our Clinical Commissioning Group; together we plan our health services to deliver the best possible care to our population. The extra funds are a welcome boost during a demanding part of the year鈥�.
This is the first time that the Department has specifically identified funding for PCTs to delegate to prospective CCGs for patient care, although individual PCTs have been delegating elements of their commissioning funds to emerging CCGs and Pathfinders during 2011/12 as part of their development. In the first half of 2011-12, about 拢29 billion had been delegated to CCGs to spend on providing services for patients.
Notes to editors
1.聽聽 聽For further information, contact the Department of Health Press Office on 020 7210 5221.
2.聽聽 聽PCT clusters will be required to inform their SHA cluster by the end of February 2012, how their share of the frontline commissioning funding has been utilised.
3.聽聽 聽Any funding which will not be utilised must be returned to the Department by the middle of February to spend on patient care elsewhere in the NHS.