Mission impossible. Can the NHS deliver government promises?

The Commissioning Review Summer issue is now available in print and online. With the general election out of the way and the shock result that the Conservatives had a majority vote, we look at the hard task facing the government. Promising seven-day access to the public and an extra 5, 000 GPs by 2020, the profession gives its point of view on the Tory’s pledges. British Medical Association (BMA) council chair Dr Mark Porter, former chair of NHS East Surrey Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and chair of The Commissioning Review board Dr Joe McGilligan, chair of Liverpool CCG Dr Nadim Fazlani and chair of West Hampshire CCG Dr Sarah Schofield all raise their concerns about the new government’s plans on offer. Word from Greater Manchester on the devolution has been somewhat limited but we unveil the efforts made so far to push through with plans. Speaking to those working in Greater Manchester, Dr Tracey Vell chief executive of Manchester Local Medical Committee and Dr Ivan Benett, clinical director of NHS Central Manchester CCG, lift the lid on progress so far. The highlights of June’s Commissioning Live event, held in Birmingham, are covered for those unable to attend. We have a brief look into leading speakers’ seminars, such as chair of the BMA’s general practice committee Dr Chaand Nagpaul, head of general practice development at NHS England Dr Robert Varnham and NHS England’s national clinical director for mental health Geraldine Strathdee. This issue has eleven insight pieces giving a view into how programmes and schemes are being implemented across the country. Two of the CEO of NHS England Simon Stevens’ vanguards, Dudley CCG and Newark and Sherwood/Mansfield and Ashfield CCG, outline the initial stages of the new scheme. What are former minister of state (department of health) Norman Lamb’s pioneers doing after being implemented in 2013? Kent explains how several of its CCGs and partners have joined forces and Islington CCG gives an overview of the projects it has implemented so far. Managing healthcare for your population’s needs is a cornerstone for commissioning. The medicines management team at Aylesbury Vale and Chiltern CCG offers examples of how it reduced medicines waste. Man of the moment Sir Muir Gray and Philip DaSilva go into detail about commissioning for value and buying care based on the population’s needs. Noel Plumridge looks at the financial side of the Tories win and how it may affect primary care. Leading a team is not taught to GPs so coming into the role as chair of a CCG can be somewhat of an unexpected position to be in. John Deffenbaugh and Caroline Chipperfield from NHS Leadership Academy discuss this change in role. Former Financial Times journalist, Nick Timmins, now a senior fellow at The King’s Fund, discusses system leadership. Co-commissioning created quite the buzz when it was announced. Harrogate and Rural District CCG and Wigan Borough CCG both explain what they intend to do with their status as delegated commissioning CCGs, assuming full responsibility for commissioning general practice services. Click here to view this issue online.