Being able to choose commissioning support services has emerged as a key test of the 'autonomy' of clinical commissioning groups. At an event organised by the NHS Alliance and the NAPC, CCG leaders complained that their cluster primary care trusts were pushing them to accept what was being offered by their local CSS; even if they would rather look elsewhere.

The chair of the NHS Commissioning Board, Malcolm Grant, assured delegates that they would have 'choice'. However, the NHS CB is making national arrangements for finance and communication services, while CSSs that want to deliver 'at scale' IT support and business intelligence will need to pass further NHS CB checks first.

Many GP leaders will be less gung-ho about going out to the private sector than those gathered in London. Some may be glad that NHS staff and skills will be retained in the new CSSs. Yet it is significant that support has emerged as such as key issue in the tussle between centralisation and decentralisation in the health service. It shows the impact that 'back office' services can have on what public facing organisations can actually do.

In other news, the NHS Information Centre has said that it is going to be collecting information on patient access to records; while in the US, a study has been launched on the hard benefits of access, using Patients Know Best.

Grant links IT to CCG success

The chair of the NHS Commissioning Board has said that the best clinical commissioning groups will be those with the best information systems.

Support services face IT and BI exams

Commissioning support services that want to deliver 'at scale' IT support and business intelligence services must pass separate tests from the NHS Commissioning Board.

NHS IC collects info on record access

The NHS Information Centre is to collect data on which GP practices are offering patients access to their medical records online.

Patients Know Best in US trial

A patient records access portal developed by a UK doctor is being used in a United States trial looking at whether giving patients access to their records saves on healthcare costs.

Morecambe shares info with GPs

Clinicians at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust are to obtain key patient information from local GP practices via the Medical Interoperability Gateway, using Lorenzo.

Wales to do GP deal by June

NHS Wales will sign a framework agreement with three GP systems suppliers to provide a managed IT service to the country's GPs by June.

"Everyone agrees that - whether or not the Information Strategy ever gets published - information and IT will be crucial for CCG success in delivering in the new NHS (nNHS?). But CCGs will not be able to go to the market for support - especially not in the crucial first few years."

"I would like a mandate we can publish in the Sun - not on Page 3, but in the paper.”

Malcolm Grant, chair of the NHS Commissioning Board, outlines what he would like from the government's mandate for his organisation; while voicing concern that it will, in fact, be overlong and full of jargon.

EHI Primary Care

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