Could merging CCGs create a more logical internal structure for STPs?
Liverpool, South Sefton and Southport and Formby clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are negotiating a merger planned for April 2018.
The combined budget of the CCGs will be £.12bn, making it the largest CCG budget in England.
Discussions were made by recently published NHS England guidance, which emphasised that CCG mergers should only happen if they will benefit local sustainability and transformation plans (STPs).
At a board meeting this month the CCGs said the merger would put them in a stronger position to tackle the current agenda for change.
This included the need to strengthen commissioning capacity and leadership, meet the challenge of commissioning in a changing provider landscape and adopt new integrated models of care as recommended in Five year forward view.
Action points
- NHS England’s new guidance on CCG mergers has increased opportunities for more mergers and it is likely more areas will follow suit.
- Consider whether the STPs you know would benefit from such a merger and think about raising the issue with contacts to get a clearer picture of what changes may take place in your region.
- Would stronger leadership from merged CCGs enable ambitious programmes of change to be completed? Would a larger commissioning organisation be able to reflect the current providers and population?