Co-commissioning - delegated commissioning arrangements A CCG that has delegated commissioning arrangements will have entered into a Delegation Agreement with NHS England setting out the scope of those arrangements. The Delegation Agreement includes a section on approving GP practice mergers and closures. When carrying out such actions, the CCG is required to act in accordance with the Delegation Agreement which includes but is not limited to: undertaking all necessary consultation when taking any decision in relation to GP practice mergers or GP practice closures, including those set out under section 14Z2 of the NHS Act (duty for public involvement and consultation). The consultation undertaken must be appropriate and proportionate in the circumstances and should include consulting with the LMC; prior to making any decision, clearly demonstrating the grounds for such a decision and fully considering any impact on the GP practice’s registered population and that of surrounding practices. The CCG must be able to clearly demonstrate that it has considered other options and has entered into dialogue with the GP contractor as to how any closure or merger will be managed; and in making any decisions, taking account of the CCG's obligations as set out in the Delegation Agreement in relation to procurement, where applicable. Annex A - Template Business Case for Practice Merger 1. Explanation of the practice merger Practices should provide an overview below of how the practices are merging. Paragraph 11.4 of the Contract Variations chapter provides common models of practice mergers and may be helpful here but practices should recognise that mergers are not restricted to one of the models listed and proposed mergers may adopt elements of more than one model or may adopt an entirely different approach.
Co-commissioning - delegated commissioning arrangements A CCG that has delegated commissioning arrangements will have entered into a Delegation Agreement with NHS England setting out the scope of those arrangements. The Delegation Agreement includes a section on approving GP practice mergers and closures. When carrying out such actions, the CCG is required to act in accordance with the Delegation Agreement which includes but is not limited to: undertaking all necessary consultation when taking any decision in relation to GP practice mergers or GP practice closures, including those set out under section 14Z2 of the NHS Act (duty for public involvement and consultation). The consultation undertaken must be appropriate and proportionate in the circumstances and should include consulting with the LMC; prior to making any decision, clearly demonstrating the grounds for such a decision and fully considering any impact on the GP practice’s registered population and that of surrounding practices. The CCG must be able to clearly demonstrate that it has considered other options and has entered into dialogue with the GP contractor as to how any closure or merger will be managed; and in making any decisions, taking account of the CCG's obligations as set out in the Delegation Agreement in relation to procurement, where applicable. Annex A - Template Business Case for Practice Merger 1. Explanation of the practice merger Practices should provide an overview below of how the practices are merging. Paragraph 11.4 of the Contract Variations chapter provides common models of practice mergers and may be helpful here but practices should recognise that mergers are not restricted to one of the models listed and proposed mergers may adopt elements of more than one model or may adopt an entirely different approach.
Primary-Medical-Care-Policy-Guidance.docx