CCG Authorisation - letter from Dame Barbara Hakin
The HCPCN received the following letter from Dame Barbara Hakin in response to our submission of feedback on "Developing clinical commissioning groups: towards authorisation".
Dear Katherine
Last week, we published the latest version of Developing clinical commissioning
groups: towards authorisation. The document sets out
thinking to date to help emerging clinical commissioning groups consider the
steps towards authorisation. It describes the processes that may need to be in
place to ensure that CCGs are highly effective, with the leadership and confidence
to discharge their healthcare and financial responsibilities.
As part of the publication process, we shared an early draft of the document in
August and invited comments from key stakeholders. Thank you so much for the
constructive, reflective and perceptive comments received. I really
appreciate the time you took to respond to us. Overall, the main changes
have been to the following areas:
· technical annex on the configuration risk assessment
· section on the road map to authorisation
· development areas for CCGs
· references to patient and public engagement
· adding an executive summary
· updating technical annex 3 to reflect many of the comments received.
We have also updated the document where the position has developed in the last
few weeks, for example technical annex 1 (legislation).
In terms of your specific comments, you raised a number of points relating to
multi-professional working and fostering innovation. We amended sections 2,3
and 5 of the document along the lines you suggested. Unfortunately we were not
able to include the other points you raised, but hope that the changes we have
made, particularly the change to domain one to pick up the need for CCGs to
have a multi-professional focus, will give the balanced picture you sought.
To accompany this document, answers to some of the questions/ points that were
frequently raised in response to the August draft have been published on the pathfinder learning network. However many of the
comments highlighted a range of issues where further thinking is required, and
will be taken forward in developing the forthcoming governance framework and
the next level of detail on authorisation.
Our intention is that the shadow NHS Commissioning Board will publish another
update of the framework in Spring 2012 following further engagement with
emerging clinical commissioning groups and stakeholders.
Please continue to send your queries, concerns and comments. I look forward to
continuing to work with you.
Barbara
Dame Barbara Hakin
National Managing Director for Commissioning Development
Department of Health