The new NHS commissioning agenda is of increasing importance to GPs. EHI Primary Care has reflected this by creating a section for commissioning content on site, and by running a major survey of emerging CCG IT and information plans.

The results of the survey, which are being reported this week, show that the ongoing uncertainty about the direction of and funding for NHS IT informatics is increasingly frustrating for those in charge of steering a course through the reformed NHS.

The survey was run before the NHS information strategy emerged last week. But it is unlikely to have helped. One CCG board member summed up what many of the 90 respondents were feeling when he said: "We need to know as soon as possible where responsibility will lie for IT and what funding there will be. We can't afford to wait another six months to find that out."

The future of GPSoC was a major concern for 12% of respondents and was discussed at the National Local Medical Committee conference in Liverpool, where the BMA and RCGP's joint IT committee joint chairman, Dr Paul Cundy, told conference attendees that GPSoC version 2 is with the Treasury.

In other news, but very much in line with the strategy's commitment to provide patients with access to their medical records by 2015, EMIS is re-launching EMIS Access on patient.co.uk. The simple interface and ability to enter the site without a practice-provided password is hoped to make it attractive to both GPs and patients.

Finally, don't forget that entries for the EHI Awards 2012 in association with BT must be in by 4pm on Friday, 1 June. There are 11 main categories, including one for 'most promising IT to support clinical commissioning', so check the requirements and enter now!

EHI PC survey reveals funding fears

Uncertainty about future funding for NHS IT and the future direction of NHS informatics are the biggest IT concerns for clinical commissioning groups, according to an exclusive survey by EHI Primary Care.

Kelsey to be NHS CB information director

Tim Kelsey has been appointed as the national director for patients and information by the NHS Commissioning Board Authority.

Final death knell for HealthSpace

The NHS' own health organiser, HealthSpace, has been confirmed as an unlikely casualty of the NHS information strategy, published earlier this week.

EMIS relaunches EMIS Access

3 EMIS is re-launching EMIS Access through patient.co.uk, with an "easy to use" interface for patients who will also be able to log-in without their practice-issued password.

Buckman attacks reforms and email plans

The British Medical Association's GP leader has launched a blistering attack on the new Health and Social Care Act, saying it "risks endangering the NHS in England."

LMCs worry about "imminent" end of GPSoC

Many practices will be left without an adequate IT system if a credible replacement for GPSoC is not agreed soon, Local Medical Committees will hear today.

LMCs renew attack on NHS 111

GP representatives have expressed "serious concerns" about the roll-out of NHS 111 and claimed the government is ignoring lessons from evaluations of the 111 pilot areas.

"GPSoC was introduced as a bandaid, when NPfIT failed to displace one set of suppliers with another in primary care. GPSoC is actually holding back what needs to be a much more competitive and dynamic area of the health IT market."

"You need to know that some of the major players for NHS 111 see it as just a money-making business proposition."

Dr Peter Holden, a negotiator for the BMA's General Practitioner Committee, speaking at the LMC conference in Liverpool.

'Power to patients' - NHS information Strategy Group

This new EHI group dedicated to discussions relating to the 2012 NHS Information Strategy, The Power of Information, putting all of us in control of the health and care information we need