CLINICIANS have welcomed news that their new membership organisation has been authorised by the NHS Commissioning Board to take on its formal responsibilities from April 1.

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will take over from NHS Gloucestershire next year and will be responsible for buying (commissioning) health services to meet the needs of local people.

A NHS spokesman says Gloucestershire is leading the way with the CCG, being one of only 34 across the country to be authorised as part of 'Wave 1'.

The membership organisation of GP practices will be responsible for buying services such as emergency care, operations and treatments that are planned in advance and community services.

CCG members will also bring their clinical knowledge of patient care to look at how services are planned and how the patient's journey through care can be improved.

Clinical chair of Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Helen Miller said: "This is fantastic news and is the result of a huge amount of hard work by clinicians across Gloucestershire and the experienced managers who are supporting us. This achievement is particularly significant as we are one of the first tranche of CCGs to be authorised in England.

"We have had to demonstrate that we have strong plans in place for commissioning high quality services for our patients, ensuring strong engagement with partners and communities and ensuring financial stability."

Forest of Dean GP and member of the CCG Shadow Board, Dr Martin Gibbs, said: "We are starting to develop our clinical programme approach which in simple terms means looking at certain health conditions and looking at the patient's journey through care. Clinicians are using their knowledge and experience to see how care can be improved and how things can be made to work better."

The CGG will now continue their preparations, work to meet in full the remaining authorisation conditions and ensure that the organisation is ready to formally take on its commissioning responsibilities.