Soldato
I'd prefer to go on the tangible evidence we already have - which is that where we already have forms of GP commissioning.
For example, unbeknown to most people, two years ago there was a full transfer of PCT to GP commissioning in Cumbria, which resulted successes: lower costs, better care.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcar...h-gp-commissioning-michael-dixon-nhs-alliance
I'm all for pragmatism, but this argument that SOMETHING BAD MIGHT HAPPEN1!!!!1 is largely based on conjecture and is not a reason for not reforming.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/05/nhs-hospital-reforms-needed
That's all well and good about Cumbria but now imagine 250+ CCGs across the country. This is my concern, how are smaller communities going to cope? The commissioning group will only be as good as the local GPs and managers. Might be fine for large cities but I'd be concerned that this so called "post code lottery" we hear about in the media may be exaggerated even further. I'm all for GPs to work with local managers but data shows that the level of primary care services are directly correlate to outcome. Giving too many GPs this extra job just won't work, what makes the Government think that a GP will be better at managing and provisioning healthcare than a dedicated manager whilst also doing his/her surgery?!
Also, Dr Michael Dixon (chairman, NHS Alliance) is a well known advocate of the Bill. Not exactly an unbiased article.