Why has one CCG pulled out of plans to establish a single commissioner?
One clinical commissioning group (CCG) has pulled out of the Kent and Medway regional strategic commissioning arrangement, and another CCG has asked for more assurances before joining.
The single strategic commissioner arrangement for Kent and Medway was originally planned to include eight CCGs, and was due to start in April under the leadership of director of partnerships Hazel Smith.
Thanet CCG has pulled out of the strategic commissioner project, while South Kent Coast has questioned the level of autonomy that member CCGs would retain.
The planned setup has been seen as a step towards a single CCG covering the entire county, although no decision had been made on this idea.
A spokesperson for the CCGs planning to go ahead said the project was still underway and all eight CCGs are invited to be part of shaping it, including deciding which CCG commissioning functions and responsibilities should be led by the strategic commissioner and which by individual CCGs.